Burgundy Deep Dive Flashcards
What is the overarching characteristic of Burgundy’s wine classifications?
It is terroir-driven: classifications are based on specific vineyards rather than estates or châteaux, emphasizing site expression.
Name Burgundy’s major grape varieties.
Red: Pinot Noir, Gamay. White: Chardonnay, Aligoté (notable in Bouzeron). Sauvignon Blanc appears in St-Bris.
What are the main subregions of Burgundy?
Chablis, Côte de Nuits, Côte de Beaune, Côte Chalonnaise, Mâconnais, and Beaujolais (often included under Greater Burgundy).
Which climate type dominates Burgundy (excluding Beaujolais)?
Mostly continental, with cold winters, hot summers, and risk of frost in spring/fall.
Describe the soils common to Burgundy’s Côte d’Or.
Limestone and marl dominate, providing excellent drainage and mineral complexity. Clay content varies, influencing body and structure.
What type of soil is Chablis especially known for?
Kimmeridgian limestone (fossil-rich), ideal for high-quality Chardonnay, plus some Portlandian limestone in less-prestigious sites.
Which wind can influence parts of southern Burgundy and Beaujolais?
The Mistral wind can blow northward into the Saône Valley, bringing drier conditions.
How does the Napoleonic inheritance law affect Burgundy’s vineyards?
It forces equal inheritance among heirs, causing extreme fragmentation of vineyard parcels, with many owners in a single cru.
What is the basic AOP covering all of Burgundy?
Bourgogne AOP, producing entry-level red (Pinot Noir) and white (Chardonnay) from across the region.
Name the four levels of the Burgundy AOP hierarchy.
1) Régionale (e.g., Bourgogne AOP), 2) Village, 3) Premier Cru (a vineyard within a village), 4) Grand Cru (its own AOP).
Which region of Burgundy produces only Chardonnay?
Chablis (though small amounts of Sauvignon Blanc exist in neighboring St-Bris). Chablis is 100% Chardonnay by law.
What is Petit Chablis?
It is an AOP for lighter, earlier-drinking Chardonnay typically grown on higher or Portlandian limestone soils rather than prime Kimmeridgian sites.
How many Grand Crus are in Chablis, and are they contiguous?
There is one overall “Chablis Grand Cru” area, but it contains seven lieu-dits (Blanchot, Bougros, Les Clos, Grenouilles, Preuses, Valmur, Vaudésir), all on a single southwest-facing slope.
Which premier cru vineyards in Chablis are especially renowned?
Montée de Tonnerre, Fourchaume, Vaillons, Montmains, and Les Forêts are among the top-rated Chablis Premier Cru sites.
Describe the typical style of Chablis wines.
Lean, high acid, mineral, often “flinty,” with little or no oak influence (except in some modern producers’ styles).
Where is the Côte de Nuits located, and what is its specialty?
It is the northern half of the Côte d’Or in Burgundy, specializing in age-worthy Pinot Noir from limestone-clay soils.
Name two famous villages/AOPs in the Côte de Nuits.
Gevrey-Chambertin and Vosne-Romanée are prime examples, each featuring multiple Grand Cru vineyards.
Which village in the Côte de Nuits is known for some of the world’s most expensive wines?
Vosne-Romanée, home to Romanée-Conti, La Tâche, and Richebourg (Domaine de la Romanée-Conti).
What is unique about Nuits-Saint-Georges?
It has no Grand Cru vineyards but many highly regarded Premier Crus like Les Saint-Georges and Les Vaucrains.
Name a key Grand Cru in Gevrey-Chambertin.
Chambertin and Clos de Bèze are the two most prestigious Grand Crus; others include Mazis-Chambertin, Ruchottes-Chambertin, etc.
List two major Grand Cru vineyards in Chambolle-Musigny.
Musigny and Bonnes Mares are the Grand Crus; Premier Cru Les Amoureuses is also highly esteemed.
Describe Vougeot’s famous single Grand Cru.
Clos de Vougeot Grand Cru covers over 50 hectares with many different owners, resulting in varied wine quality under one appellation.
Which half of the Côte d’Or is typically more Chardonnay-focused?
The Côte de Beaune (the southern half) is known for top white Burgundies (e.g., Montrachet, Meursault).
Name a Grand Cru in Aloxe-Corton that produces both red and white.
Corton (red) and Corton-Charlemagne (white) share the same hill; certain parcels can produce either style depending on the vineyard’s designation.
Which village produces only red wines in the Côte de Beaune?
Pommard produces exclusively Pinot Noir, known for its sturdy, tannic style.
What are Meursault’s top Premier Cru vineyards known for?
Perrières, Genevrières, and Charmes produce rich, complex Chardonnays, often with nutty, buttery notes from oak and bâtonnage.
Name two legendary white Grand Crus shared by Puligny and Chassagne.
Montrachet and Bâtard-Montrachet are among the most revered; also Chevalier-Montrachet and Criots-Bâtard-Montrachet.
What is the Côte Chalonnaise known for?
Underrated, good value. Produces Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and some Aligoté in warmer conditions than the Côte de Beaune.
Which Côte Chalonnaise AOP focuses on Aligoté?
Bouzeron AOP is unique in Burgundy for producing wine solely from Aligoté.
Name an AOP in the Côte Chalonnaise known for sparkling wine.
Rully AOP produces white, red, and notable Crémant de Bourgogne.
Which Côte Chalonnaise AOP is considered the best for Pinot Noir?
Mercurey is regarded as producing the most structured and long-lived reds in the Côte Chalonnaise.
What grape is grown exclusively in Montagny AOP?
Chardonnay only, producing white wines that can have a steely, mineral edge.
Which subregion of Burgundy is influenced by Mediterranean warmth?
The Mâconnais, where the climate is slightly warmer, yielding ripe Chardonnay (and some Pinot Noir, Gamay).
Name the main AOPs in the Mâconnais.
Mâcon AOP (includes red, rosé, white), Viré-Clessé, Pouilly-Fuissé, Pouilly-Loché, Pouilly-Vinzelles, and Saint-Véran (all white only).
Why is Pouilly-Fuissé considered the top AOP in the Mâconnais?
It produces rich, concentrated Chardonnay from limestone soils around the rock formations of Solutré and Vergisson.
Name the major grape of Beaujolais.
Gamay dominates Beaujolais, grown on granite-based soils that impart structure and freshness.
How does the Beaujolais climate differ from northern Burgundy?
It is slightly warmer, with more Mediterranean influence, favoring earlier ripening for Gamay.
What is the standard hierarchy in Beaujolais?
1) Beaujolais AOP (basic), 2) Beaujolais-Villages AOP (higher quality), 3) Cru Beaujolais (10 individual crus like Morgon, Fleurie).
List three of the 10 Beaujolais Crus.
Morgon, Fleurie, and Moulin-à-Vent are three of the most famous, each with distinct styles ranging from fruity and floral to more structured and age-worthy.
Which Beaujolais Cru is known for its age-worthy wines often compared to Pinot Noir?
Morgon and Moulin-à-Vent both produce structured Gamay that can develop with cellar age.
What is carbonic maceration, often associated with Beaujolais?
A technique where whole grapes ferment in a CO2-rich environment, producing fruity, low-tannin red wines with candy-like aromas.
Which rare white grape is permitted in Beaujolais?
Chardonnay is allowed in small amounts for Beaujolais Blanc or Beaujolais-Villages Blanc.
Explain the concept of lieu-dit vs. climat in Burgundy.
A lieu-dit is a named vineyard plot; a climat is a specific terroir unit (soil, microclimate) recognized for consistent character. Both terms overlap but climat often implies historical significance and classification.
When was the first official AOC in Burgundy established?
1936 saw the start of AOC in France, with regions like Mercurey among the early adopters in Burgundy.
How did the Duke of Burgundy’s 1395 edict affect regional grapes?
He banned Gamay in the Côte d’Or to promote Pinot Noir, pushing Gamay south (Beaujolais).
What impact did phylloxera (1860s) have on Burgundy?
It devastated vineyards, forcing replanting and influencing rootstock use. Vineyards were rebuilt with grafted vines over decades.
What are typical oak regimens for white Burgundy in the Côte de Beaune?
30–50% new oak for Premier Cru, with bâtonnage (lees stirring), imparting a creamy texture and subtle toast.
Which domaine is highly revered in Vosne-Romanée for top-tier Pinot Noir?
Domaine de la Romanée-Conti (DRC) owns Romanée-Conti and La Tâche, producing extremely expensive, collectible wines.
Name a top biodynamic producer in the Côte de Nuits.
Domaine Leroy is famous for biodynamic viticulture and high-quality, small-production wines.
Which iconic producer in Puligny-Montrachet is known for world-class Chardonnay?
Domaine Leflaive is recognized for its top Premier and Grand Cru whites (e.g., Chevalier-Montrachet, Bâtard-Montrachet).
Name a major Burgundy négociant known for quality.
Louis Jadot is a well-established négociant and producer with a broad portfolio of wines from multiple appellations.
