Burgundy Vineyard, Grapes & Management Flashcards
Key Grapes in Burgundy?
Historically?
Chardonnay & Pinot Noir
Also Aligoté (Bouzeron), Cote Chalonnaise
Gamay
Chardonnay Characteristics
Versatile
Suited to a range of climates
Susceptible to Spring Frost
Ripens early = suitable for cool regions
Produces relatively hi yields without loss of quality
Prone to grey rot, powdery mildew
Can be grown on wide range of soils and climates
Top Quality examples grown on Limestone/Clay soil (Burgundy)
Describe Chardonnay from Cool Climate
Apple, pear, lemon and lime fruit with wet stone notes, light to med body, hi acidity (Chablis)
Describe Chardonnay from Moderate climate (ie, Côte d’Or)
Ripe citrus, melon and stone fruit, med-med body, med(+) acidity
In good grown seasons in Burgundy how to retain high quality?
vigour management to reduce yield and shading
Describe Pinot Noir Grape
Buds early
Susceptible to spring frost
Ripens early, suitable for cooler climate
Yields - must be limited to produced quality wines
prone to millerandage, downy/powdery mildew, botrytis bunch rot, Fan Leaf/Leaf Roll
Can also ripen too fast in warmer climate (reduces intensity of aromas and berries shrivel)
Challenges of Pinot Noir in Burgundy
whether fruit will ripen sufficiently to desired ripeness (tannins, colour and flavour)
How have the Pinot noir clones developed?
Drawn from Dijon clone families developed at University of Burgundy in Dijon
Now used in many wine regions
What can the type of clones affect
yield
disease tolerance
speed of ripening
fruit characteristics
How can producers decide what to plant in terms of clones? (3)
Can plant vineyards with single variety = more uniform fruit profile
or plant a mix leading to more diversity in grape characteristics, resistance to disease
Some producers propagate own vines via mass selection
Describe Pinot Noir Tasting note in Burgundy
Strawberry, Raspberry and Red Cherry
Village Wines: light, oak derived (smoke/clove), low med tannin
Grand Cru Med+ tannin, med all, hi acidity
Aged wines can develop earth, game and mushrooms with time in bottle
Traditionally, How were vines pruned, trained and trellised?
Guyot system (replacement-cane pruned with VSP)
What other training systems are used in Burgundy?
Cordon training system, including Cordon de Royat.
Limited vigour/yields, tho high proportion of old wood can harbour disease
What training system has come back into fashion?
Guyot system, and a softer method of cane pruning known as Poussard-Guyot (maintains same sap route from one year to the next, reduced pruning wounds, reduces incidence of Esca/trunk disease)
What is the disadvantage of Guyot system (replacement-cane pruned with VSP)
requires skilled vineyard workers, but very helpful in combatting trunk disease and aids canopy management
What are the planting densities in Burgundy?
8-10,000 vines per hectare, though there are higher.
What is the advantage of higher density planting?
Encourages root competition = better quality fruit, smaller berries, higher flavour intensity
How can growers manage/reduce yields?
Winter Pruning
De-budding
Green Harvesting
Describe de-budding and Disadvantage
reduces yields (before flowering)
promotes good balance in the vine
BUT by reducing yields early, damage via hail, frost or disease can have dramatic effect on yield.
Describe Green Harvesting and Disadvantage
Removing immature grapes shortly after Vérasion = substantiially reduced yields but much later in the season before taking action so risk reduced (vs de-budding. BUT can lead to changes in vine dev through compensation via excessive grown in remaining bunches = dilution of grapes
What are the Maximum yields for regional/village/G Cu appellations
Regional = 69 hL/ha Red 75 hL/ha White
Village Level = 40-45 hL/ha Red
45-47 hL/ha White
Grand Cru 35 hL/ha Red 40 hL/ha White
How is Organic/Biodynamic grape growing in Burgundy?
Becoming more popular
Climate is a challenge
Many vineyards are shared - so organic practice not always viable
Can cause friction between growers who adopt different practices
How are some vineyards problems being managed in Burgundy such as
1. Grape Moths
2. Fungal Disease
3. Grapevine Yellows
4. Esca
- Pheromone capsules (sexual confusion technique)
- Canopy Management and spraying
- Vigilance in monitoring and attempting to restrict the spread
- Pruning mangement
What are the biggest challenges with timing of harvest?
critical due to marginal climate
storms lead to dilution and fruit damage
early harvest preserves acidity but not ripeness
late harvest = softer wine
majority of fruit harvested by hand = workforce availability
