Ch 15 - Burgundy

Question 1

What is the climate in Burgundy?

Answer 1

Ranges from cool continental in the north near Chablis to moderate continental further south.

Question 2

What are some hazards in Burgundy?

Answer 2

Rain can frequently disrupt flowering in early summer and harvest later in the year. Pinot Noir is particularly susceptible to grey rot which can be a problem in a wet growing season. Spring frosts in particular around Chablis can appear as late as may. Localised summer hailstorms can destroy crops.

Question 3

How does vineyard location impact quality levels in the appellation hierarchy of Burgundy?

Answer 3

Basic village-level vineyards are located on flat sites or at the bottom of slopes whereas premier cru or grand crus will be mid-slope.

Question 4

How can vineyard location combat some of the hazards in Burgundy?

Answer 4

Mid-slope hillside locations are less prone to frost than those on flat land. Those with south or east facing exposures have some protection from westerly winds as will.

Question 5

What is the terrain like in Burgundy and how does this impact wines?

Answer 5

Soils are very varied and a number of small geological faults combined with erosion means the types of soil changes significantly over small areas. These changes are linked to subtle changes in styles of wine but the exact role soil plays is a subject of debate. The soils on the hillsides tend to be shallower with better drainage whereas those on flat land are deeper and more fertile.

Question 6

What are the two dominant grape varieties in Burgundy?

Answer 6

Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.

Question 7

Where are the most important plantings of Pinot Noir in Burgundy?

Answer 7

In the Côte d’Or.

Question 8

What is the style of classic Burgundian Pinot Noir?

Answer 8

Red fruit flavours in youth that evolve into flavours of earth, game and mushroom as the wine matures. Tend to have high acidity and low-medium tannins but this varies according to vineyard, producer and vintage.

Question 9

What winemaking techniques are used for PN in Burgundy?

Answer 9

Wide range varying from producer to producer. Use of whole bunches has gradually become more popular. Best wines see 16-18months barrel ageing. Better wines will be aged in a proportion of new oak but this depends on producer.

Question 10

What is the character of Chardonnay in Burgundy?

Answer 10

Varies as you move south - lean, steely and high acid in Chablis, complex, expressive in Cote d’Or and full bodied, riper in the Mâcon.

Question 11

What techniques are associated with premium Chardonnay production in Burgundy? Where do the most expressive premium examples of these come from and what is their character?

Answer 11

barrel fermentation, barrel ageinh (6-9 months), MLF for white wines and lees during maturation. The best examples are usually from the Côte d’Or and will be well balanced and complex expressions that can mature in bottle for a decade or more.

Question 12

What vineyard management may be used to assist ripening of Burgundy PN?

Answer 12

Vertical shoot positioning so that the light can penetrate the canopy and fruit is unshaded to maximise sun exposure.

Question 13

Where are the best vineyards planted in Chablis?

Answer 13

On slopes with favourable south-facing aspects.

Question 14

What is the major climactic issue in Chablis? What measures can be taken to protect against it?

Answer 14

Frost is the main issue - sprinklers and heaters are both used.

Question 15

What grapes are permitted in Chablis?

Answer 15

Just Chardonnay.

Question 16

Where will you find the differing quality levels of Chablis growing (site location)?

Answer 16

Basic village level found on northern facing slopes and flatter land, premier and grand cru on south facing hillsides giving greater concentration and ripeness to the wines.

Question 17

What is Petit Chablis?

Answer 17

Classification of lesser vineyards in Chablis.

Question 18

What is the character of Petit Chablis and Chablis?

Answer 18

Can be very austere with green fruit, high acidity and the better ones will have riper fruit flavours.

Question 19

What is the character of premier and grand crus Chablis?

Answer 19

Show riper, more concentrated fruit (citrus rather than green apple) and have more body balanced by high acidity.

Question 20

How might a producer treat premium Chablis in the winemaking process and why?

Answer 20

Ferment or age in old oak which can give rounder texture and subtle flavours (grand cru and some premier crus). Others prefer to retain pure fruit flavours by fermenting and storing in stainless steel or concrete.

Question 21

What does the Massif Central provide in the Cote d’Or?

Answer 21

It runs alongside the western side providing favourable east and south east hillside locations.

Question 22

What are the main areas in the Cote d’Or and what whines are they associated with?

Answer 22

It is split into 2 - Cote de Nuits for the fullest bodied long lived pinot noirs aand Cote de Beaune for the best Chardonnays but also some fruitier red wines. The red grand crus are all in Cote de Nuits (except one) and whites are (except one) are in Cote de Beaune.

Question 23

How does the appellation hierarchy in Burgundy work?

Answer 23

Based on quality of the vineyard sites.
1. regional
The bottom is the regional appellations - Bourgogne Rouge and Blanc are the most generic. Will be PN and Chardy.

Bourgogne Hautes Cotes de Nuit, Bourgogne Hautes Cotes de Beaune, Bourgogne Hautes Cotes Chalonnaise are some slightly more restricted areas in the regional appellation category, Macon is another for red and white and Macon Villages for whites only.

2. Communes
   Appellations like Chablis or Gevrey-Chambertin. Just the name of the commune will appear on the label. May also put single vineyard name as well if it is not a 1ere or grand cru. Term village is sometimes used instead of commune.
3. 1ere and Grands Crus
   Vineyards that have consistently made high quality wines. Most vineyards belong to several owners who will grow and harvest individual parcels of wine. 1ere crus must state 1ere cru on the label. May also put name of vineyard if single vineyard. May blend from several vineyards within the village though. Grand Cru - only the vineyard appears on the label with the term Grand Cru.

Question 24

Name some key villages of the Cote de Nuit.

Answer 24

Gevrey-Chambertin, Vosne-Romanée, Nuits Saint Georges.

Question 25

Name some key villages of the Cote de Beaune.

Answer 25

Aloxe-Corton, Beaune, Pommard, Volnay, Meursault, Puligny-Montrachet, Chassagne-Montrachet. They produce white and red wines except for Pommard and Volnay.

Question 26

Which three villages in Cote de Beaune have the highest reputation for white wines?

Answer 26

Meursault, Puligny-Montrachet and Chassagne-Montrachet with the last two sharing the grand cru of Montrachet.

Question 27

What wines are produced in Cote de Nuit-Villages?

Answer 27

Red or white - produced from the vineyards that lie on the cote de nuits but do not qualify for one of the more famous village appellations.

Question 28

What wines are produced in Cote de Beaune-Villages?

Answer 28

Must be red and can come from any one or a combo fo the villages on the Cote de Beaune.

Question 29

What are the climactic factors of Bourgogne Hautes Cotes de Nuits and Bourgogne Hautes Cotes de Beaune and how does this impact on the wines produced?

Answer 29

They are to the west of and at a higher altitude than the main strip - greater exposure to winds. Cooler climate which means wines have less body and concentration.

Question 30

What wines are made in the Cote Chalonnaise and what factors impact the style?

Answer 30

Chardonnay and Pinot Noir - due to higher altitude the harvest is later and ripening is less reliable. Aspect is less consistently east so wines are lighter and tend to mature earlier. Less prestigious than the Cote d’Or.

Question 31

What is Rully known for?

Answer 31

More white wine than red. Also an important region for sparkling.

Question 32

Which appellation on the Cote Chalonnaise enjoys the highest reputation for red wines? What other village is known for high quality red wines?

Answer 32

Mercurey. has the best reputation, Givry also has very admired reds and is the smallest village appellation.

Question 33

What wines does Montagny produce?

Answer 33

Only whites.

Question 34

What is the Bourgogne Cote Chalonnaise appellation?

Answer 34

Applies to all wines made on the Cote Chalonnaise from PN and Chardonnay. Regional appellation.

Question 35

What are the dominant grapes in the Mâconnais?

Answer 35

Chardonnay is the most widely planted and the reds are from Gamay and some PN.

Question 36

What is the local regional appellation in the Maconnais? What wines does it produce?

Answer 36

Macon is the local regional appellation. Makes red and white wines with a good balance of fresh apple or citrus fruit, medium acidity and medium to full body. May be a hint of creaminess from MLF. Reds are light and fruit and made for early drinking.

Question 37

What does a Macon Villages represent and what styles of wine are produced?

Answer 37

Generally excellent value for money - some villages have particularly good reputations like Lugny. May be from one or a combination of the villages. Generally similar in style to white Macon but display more ripeness, body and character.

Question 38

What are the 2 most famous village appellations in the Maconnais region and what wines do they produce? What natural factors impact these wines?

Answer 38

Pouilly-Fuissé and Saint-Véran. Display ripe notes of tropical and stone fruits and most are matured for a period of time in barrel to enhance texture and add flavours. Vines planted on the limestone slopes with east and south east exposures. These act as natural suntraps and help produce some of the richest and ripest chardonnays in Burgundy often with toasty oak flavours.