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WSET Level 3 > C15 - Burgundy > Flashcards

C15 - Burgundy Flashcards

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1
Q

How is the climate of burgundy best described?

A

Cool continental in the north around Chablis and moderate continental further south

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2
Q

What negative effects can rain have specifically in Burgundy?

A

Frequently disrupts flowering in early summer and harvest later in the year

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3
Q

Which Burgundy grape is particularly susceptible to grey rot?

A

Pinot Noir

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4
Q

What is the climatic hazard particular to the Chablis area of Burgundy?

A

Spring frosts

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5
Q

How late can spring frosts appear in Chablis?

A

May

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6
Q

Other than frosts, what else can cause a large problem in Burgundy?

A

Summer hail

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7
Q

Where are the more basic, village level vineyards usually located in Burgundy?

A

On flat sites or at the bottom of slopes

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8
Q

Where are premier or grand cru vineyards of Burgundy often found?

A

Mid-slope

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9
Q

Name a beneficial climatic feature of a vineyard site being mid-slope rather than lower

A

They are less prone to frost

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10
Q

What additional locational feature do the very top Burgundy vineyards share?

A

South or east facing exposure

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11
Q

Other than light exposure, why is it beneficial for the best vineyards to be south or east facing?

A

They are sheltered from prevailing westerly winds

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12
Q

What is the soil type in Burgundy?

A

The soils are very varied

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13
Q

Why is there so much soil variation in Burgundy?

A

A result of a large number of geological faults combined with gradual erosion

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14
Q

What is the reason linked to subtle changes in wine-style in Burgundy?

A

Variation in soil type

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15
Q

How does soil quality vary dependent on topography?

A

Soils on hillsides are shallower and better drained
Soil on flat land is deeper and more fertile

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16
Q

What are the grapes used in Burgundy wine production?

A

Pinot Noir
Chardonnay
Aligoté
Gamay

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17
Q

What proportion of total vineyard area does Pinot Noir account for in Burgundy?

A

Over a third

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18
Q

Where in Burgundy is Pinot Noir grown?

A

Throughout, but the most important plantings are in the Côte d’Or

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19
Q

What flavors does Burgundian Pinot Noir typically express? Acidity and tannin?

A

Red fruit flavors in youth
Evolve into flavors of earth, game and mushroom
High acidity
Low to medium tannin

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20
Q

Which practice has gradually become more popular in Burgundian vinification of Pinot Noir?

A

The use of whole bunches

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21
Q

How long is Pinot Noir typically aged in Burgundy’s best wines?

A

16 to 18 months in barrel

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22
Q

What are Pinot Noirs generally aged in in Burgundy?

A

New oak for a period (though this does depend on the producer)

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23
Q

What proportion of vineyard area in Burgundy does Chardonnay usually account for?

A

Nearly half

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24
Q

Describe the character of Chardonnay in Burgundy

A

Steely and high acid in Chablis
Complex and expressive in Côte d’Or Full bodied and riper in Mâcon

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25
Q

Where was the modern style of premium Chardonnay production founded?

A

Burgundy

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26
Q

What are the four modern techniques used in Chardonnay production in Burgundy that now contribute to the world’s most famous Chardonnays?

A

Barrel fermentation
Barrel ageing (6-9 months typically)
MLF Using lees during maturation

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27
Q

What is still in high debate when it comes to Burgundian vinification of Chardonnay?

A

How much new oak ageing is appropriate
The appropriate amount of toasting for barrels

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28
Q

How long can the best Burgundian Chardonnay age for?

A

Ten years or more

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29
Q

What problem was discovered with Burgundian Chardonnays 15 years ago?

A

They were not ageing as expected
Some were showing signs of premature oxidation

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30
Q

What is the cause of the premature oxidation problem in Burgundy Chardonnays?

A

It has not been identified definitively

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31
Q

Describe the flavor profile of Aligoté

A

White grape producing neutral wines with high acidity

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32
Q

What kinds of wines can Aligoté produce?

A

Usually neutral, but can produce high quality when grown on sites where it can ripen fully

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33
Q

Why does Aligoté rarely produce quality wines in Burgundy?

A

Appropriate sites are usually taken by Chardonnay and Pinot Noir

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34
Q

Describe Gamay in Burgundy

A

Early drinking red
Ripe berry fruit
Low tannins

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35
Q

What sort of appellations can Gamay be applied to?

A

Some regional, but nothing higher

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36
Q

Where is Chablis in Burgundy?

A

In the valley of the river Serein (northernmost Burgundy)

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37
Q

On what sort of aspect is the best Chablis usually planted?

A

South-facing

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38
Q

Some of the lesser Chablis vineyards are known as…

A

Petit Chablis

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39
Q

What is the major climatic problem in Chablis?

A

Spring frosts

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40
Q

How is Spring frost protected against in Chablis?

A

With sprinklers and heaters

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41
Q

How many grapes are permitted in Chablis?

A

One (Chardonnay)

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42
Q

Describe the aspect of basic, village level Chablis

A

Grown on north-facing slopes and flatter land

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43
Q

Describe the aspect of premier cru and grand cru sites in Chablis

A

South facing hillsides

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44
Q

Describe the flavors of Petit Chablis and Chablis

A

They can be very austere with green fruit and high acidity| Better examples show riper fruit flavors

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45
Q

Describe the flavors of Cru Chablis

A

Riper, more concentrated fruit (citrus rather than green apple)
More body
High acidity

46
Q

Is Chablis oak aged?

A

Some Cru producers age Chablis in old oak

47
Q

What is the effect of ageing Chablis in old oak?

A

It gives a rounder texture and subtle flavors

48
Q

How may pure fruit flavors be retained in Chablis?

A

By fermenting and storing wines in stainless steel or concrete

49
Q

Which hill/mountain range is nearby to the Côte d’Or? Where is it?

A

The Massif Central
Along the western limit

50
Q

What does the Massif Central provide in Burgundy?

A

Favorable east and southeast facing hillside locations

51
Q

What is the Côte de Nuits best known for?

A

Many of the fullest-bodied, longest-lived Pinot Noirs

52
Q

What is the Côte de Beaune best known for?

A

The best Chardonnays in Burgundy

53
Q

Does the Côte de Beaune only produce Chardonnay?

A

No, it can also produce reds in a fruitier style than those of Côte de Nuits

54
Q

How many of Burgundy’s red Grand Crus are produced in the Côtes de Nuits?

A

All but one

55
Q

How many of Burgundy’s white Grand Crus are in the Côte de Beaune?

A

All but one

56
Q

List the key villages of Côtes de Nuit, running from north to south with their key grands crus sites

A

Gevrey-Chambertin (Chambertin, Chambertin Clos de Bèze)
Vougeot (Clos de Vougeot)
Vosne-Romanée (Romanée-Conti, La Tâche, La Romanée)
Nuits Saint-Georges

57
Q

List the key villages of the Côtes-de-Beaune in order from north to south, with their Grands Crus

A 
Aloxe-Corton (Corton, Corton-Charlemagne)
Beaune
Pommard
Volnay
Meursault
Puligny-Montrachet (Montrachet)
Chassagne-Montrachet (Montrachet)
58
Q

What color of wines do the key villages of Côtes de Beaune produce?

A

Both (all except for Pommard and Volnay)

59
Q

What are the three Côtes de Beaune villages with the highest reputation?

A

Meursault
Puligny-Montrachet
Chassagne-Montrachet

60
Q

What can qualify for Côtes de Nuits-Villages?

A

A red or a white wine
It can be from any village that doesn’t qualify as a more famous village appellation

61
Q

What can qualify as a Côte de Beaune Villages?

A

It must be red
It can come from any one or several village appellations in Côte de Beaune (with some exceptions)

62
Q

Which regional appellations are to the west and at higher altitudes than the main strip of vineyards? Describe them

A

Bourgogne Hauts Côtes de Nuits Bourgogne Hauts Côtes de Beaune
Their higher altitudes and greater exposure to wind gives them a cooler climate and wines with less body and concentration

63
Q

Where is the Côte Challonaise?

A

To the south of the Côte d’Or

64
Q

What are the main grapes of the Côte Challonaise?

A

Chardonnay
Pinot Noir

65
Q

Due to the…of the vineyards in the Côte Challonaise, harvest is…and…is less reliable

A

Later| Ripening

66
Q

Why are wines of the Côte Challonaise lighter and earlier to mature?

A

Less vineyards tend to have an easterly aspect

67
Q

What are the four village appellations of the Côte Challonaise?

A

Rully
Mercurey
Givry
Montagny

68
Q

Describe wines of Rully

A

More wines are white than red| An important center for sparkling production

69
Q

Describe the wines of Mercurey

A

Red wines enjoy the highest reputation of the Challonaise

70
Q

Describe Givry and its wines

A

High reputation red wines
Smallest appellation of Challonaise

71
Q

Describe the wines of Montagny

A

These are only white

72
Q

Describe the crus of the Challonaise

A

All of the communes have premier cru vineyards, but no grands crus

73
Q

What is the regional appellation for the Côte Challonaise?

A

Bourgogne Côte Challonaise

74
Q

What is the most widely planted grape of the Mâconnais?

A

Chardonnay

75
Q

What is the principal red grape of the Mâconnais?

A

Gamay (though some Pinot Noir is made)

76
Q

What is the regional appellation for the Mâconnais?

A

Mâcon

77
Q

What colour is Mâcon?

A

Red or white

78
Q

Describe the better white Mâcon wines

A

Fresh apple or citrus fruit
Medium acidity
Medium to full body
Some possible creaminess from MLF

79
Q

Describe red Mâcon

A

Light and fruity
Made for early drinking

80
Q

Describe wines labelled Mâcon Villages or Mâcon followed by a village name

A

More ripeness, body and character than Mâcon

81
Q

Which of the Mâcon Village wines has built up the biggest following?

A

Lugny

82
Q

Which are the two most famous village appellations in The Mâconnais?

A

Pouilly-Fuissé and Saint-Véran

83
Q

Describe the wines of the village appellations in the Mâconnais

A

Ripe notes of tropical and stone fruits
Most matured for a time in barrel to enhance texture and add flavor

84
Q

Where are the grapes of the best wines of Mâconnais’s best village appellations often planted?

A

On the limestone slopes of the Roche de Solutré with east and southeast exposures

85
Q

What is unique about the shape of the vineyards on the Roche de Solutré that is good for the wines? What effect does it have on the wines?

A

The slopes are amphitheater-like and act as natural sun traps
Produces some of the richest and ripest Chardonnays in Burgundy

86
Q

How are the ‘Solutré’ wines of the Mâconnais often vinified?

A

In oak, creating toasty flavors

87
Q

What is the hierarchy of Burgundy appellations based on?

A

The quality of the vineyard sites

88
Q

What is the lowest rank in the burgundy appellation hierarchy?

A

Regional appellations:
Bourgogne Rouge
Bourgogne Blanc

89
Q

Where do Burgundy’s regional wines come from?

A

Vineyards that do not have the right to a superior appellation Regions which have been declassified from a superior appellation

90
Q

Why may a Burgundy region be declassified?

A

Excessive yields
A quality minded producer may want to preserve the prestige of an appellation by not including lower-quality wines

91
Q

What grapes usually make up Bourgogne Rouge and Bourgogne Blanc?

A

Pinot Noir
Chardonnay

92
Q

Name Burgundy’s regional appellations which cover a slightly more restricted area

A 
Bourgogne Hautes Côtes de Nuits
Bourgogne Hautes Côtes de Beaune
Bourgogne Côte Challonaise
Mâcon
Mâcon Villages
93
Q

What color wines are from Mâcon?

A

Red and white

94
Q

What color wines are from Mâcon Villages?

A

White only

95
Q

What is the next highest rank after regional appellations in Burgundy?

A

Commune appellations

96
Q

Give two examples of commune appellations in Burgundy

A

Chablis
Gevrey-Chambertin

97
Q

What proportion of production in Burgundy do commune appellations account for?

A

About a third

98
Q

What else may appear on a Burgundy commune wine other than the commune name? Why?

A

Vineyard name
If the wine comes from a single vineyard and the vineyard is not a Cru

99
Q

What term is sometimes used in Burgundy instead of commune?

A

Village

100
Q

What are the appellations in Burgundy above commune?

A

Premier Cru
Grand Cru

101
Q

What are Cru vineyards?

A

Vineyards that have consistently made high-quality wines

102
Q

What is a monopole?

A

A vineyard which belongs to just one owner

103
Q

How are vineyards organized in Burgundy?

A

They are divided between a number of different owners, each owning a different parcel of vines

104
Q

How many premiers crus are spread between Chablis, the Côte d’Or and the Challonaise?

A

More than 600

105
Q

What fraction do the the premiers crus of northern Burgundy provide of Burgundy’s total production?

A

A tenth

106
Q

What may also appear on a premier cru label (other than premier cru)?

A

The name of the vineyard| If the wine comes from a single vineyard

107
Q

When may there be no vineyard name on the label of a Burgundy premier cru vineyard?

A

If the wine is a blend of wines from various premier cru vineyards within a village

108
Q

What is the very top of the Burgundy appellation hierarchy?

A

Grand Cru

109
Q

What is the percentage of total production of Burgundy’s grand cru vineyards?

A

Little more than 1%

110
Q

How many grand cru vineyards are there in Burgundy?
Where are they?

A

33
Côte d’Or and Chablis

111
Q

How can the grand cru wines of Burgundy be recognized?
What else must appear?

A

Only the vineyard appears on the label
‘Grand Cru’

WSET Level 3 (27 decks)

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