Côte Chalonnaise and Mâconnais

Question 1

How long is Côte Chalonnaise? What river valley does it follow?

Answer 1

25-kilometer long corridor extending southward from Santenay; spans alongside the western edge of the Saône River Valley “su-on” like “sun” and “son” and a baby.

Question 2

What are the soil of Côte Chalonnaise?

Answer 2

resemble those in the Côte de Beaune—weathered limestone and clay—but the area is no longer protected from prevailing winds by the dominating escarpment of the Côte d’Or.

Question 3

Why is ripening more often delayed in the Côte Challonnaise in comparison to the the more northern Côte d’Or?

Answer 3

The area is no longer protected from prevailing winds by the dominating escarpment of the Côte d’Or. The terrain is hilly, but less rugged, and there are plenty of conduits for cool westerly winds; thus, despite being further south than the Côte de Beaune, ripening may be delayed.

Question 4

When did Côte Chalonnaise officially become a geographic designation of Bourgogne AOP?

Answer 4

1990

Question 5

What are the 5 appellations established in the Côte Chalonnaise and when were they established?

Answer 5

Mercurey (1936)
Montagny (1936) 
Rully (1939)
Givry (1946)
Bouzeron (1998)

Question 6

Which of the 5 appellations of the Côte Chalonnaise does not have a premier cru classification?

Answer 6

All except Bouzeron have a premier cru classification as well.

Question 7

What style is found in Bouzeron?

Answer 7

White wines based on 100% Aligoté

Question 8

What is the most famous estate in Bouzeron?

Answer 8

Domaine A and P de Villaine (established by Aubert de Villaine of DRC fame.)

Question 9

What are two selections of Aligoté. Which is preferred?

Answer 9

The golden Aligoté d’Oré instead of the green Aligoté Vert is the preferred cultivated selection.

Question 10

Which Côte Chalonnaise appellation was the 19th century birthplace of sparkling wines in Burgundy and is still today the center of Crémant de Bourgogne AOP?

Answer 10

Rully

-the appellation produces both white and red wines in a 70% to 30% ratio.

Question 11

What are the original five premier crus of Mercurey and when were they established?

Answer 11

Clos Marcilly, Clos Voyens, Le Clos du Roy, Les Fourneaux, and Les Montaigus—date to 1943,

-it has 32 in total today following additions in 1956 and 1988.

Question 12

Describe the wines of Mercurey?

Answer 12

As 85% of its vines are Pinot Noir, Mercurey is really a red wine village, producing the firmest and most muscular reds in the Côte Chalonnaise, with greater levels of tannin and new oak than either Givry or Rully can support

Question 13

In Mercurey, who owns the monopole premier cru Clos des Myglands?

Answer 13

Domaine Faiveley owns the premier cru, along with over 30 hectares of vines in the village.

Question 14

Name domaines based in Mercurey? (3)

Answer 14

Château de Chamirey, Bruno Lorenzon, and Michel Juillot.

Question 15

Describe the wines of Givry?

Answer 15

Like Mercurey, Givry produces a lot of red wines and a little white. The red wines are often sleeker and more charming but a little less tannic and weighty than those of Mercurey.

Question 16

Who is considered the top domaine in Givry?

Answer 16

Domaine Joblot

Question 17

What wine is produced in Montagny?

Answer 17

Only white wines produced from Chardonnay are authorized.

Question 18

From 1936 to 1989 what Burgundy appellation’s wines qualified for premier cru status simply by achieving a min 11.5% alcohol regardless of vineyard source?

Answer 18

Montagny

Question 19

Who is the largest producer in Montagny?

Answer 19

Cave de Buxy, a local cooperative, which is also the largest producer in the entire Côte Chalonnaise

Question 19

Describe white wines of Mâcon?

Answer 19

Most Mâcon Chardonnay is fermented and raised in stainless steel, sans shades of oak. In comparison to Chablis it tends to be fruitier and more open, but lacks Chablis’ sharp mineral edge and high acidity.

Question 20

What is the predominant red grape of Mâcon rouge?

Answer 20

Gamay, there are more Gamay vines than Pinot Noir vines.

Question 21

What are the five village AOP’s of Mâconnais?

Answer 21

—Pouilly-Fuissé "poo-ee few-say"
—Pouilly-Loché "poo-ee low-shay"
—Pouilly-Vinzelles "poo-ee van-zell"
—Saint-Véran
—Viré-Clessé "vere-ay cle-say"

Question 22

What are the two large limestone escarpments that define the landscape of the southern Mâconnais?

Answer 22

Rocks of Solutré “SOUL-tray” and Vergisson “VERGE-ee-son”, which mark the end of the limestone plateau on which all burgundy save Beaujolais is grown.

A popular myth is that the soil beneath the crags was enriched by the remains of animals driven from the top of the cliff by Stone Age hunters.

Question 24

What are the four communes of Montagne?

Answer 24

Buxy, Jully-lès-Buxy, Montagny-lès-Buxy, and Saint-Vallerin.

Question 25

What is the most highly regarded area for winegrowing in the Mâconnais?

Answer 25

Pouilly-Fuissé

Question 26

What are the four communes of Pouilly-Fuissé?

Answer 26

—Fuissé
—Solutré-Pouilly
—Vergisson
—Chaintré

Question 27

What is the youngest appellation in Mâconnais?

Answer 27

Viré-Clessé, dating to 1999.

Question 28

Name prominent producers in Macon.

Answer 28

Leading producers include the Bret Brothers, Guffens-Heynen and his négociant company Verget, Merlin, Vincent, and Thévenet

Question 29

What styles are found in Mâcon AOP?

What styles are found in Mâcon-Villages

Answer 29

—White, rosé, and red wines—including varietally labeled Gamay.

—85% of the Mâcon AOP production, however, carries the geographic designation Mâcon-Villages or—more precisely—the name of a single commune appended to the appellation, such as Lugny, Milly-Lamartine, or Pierreclos
**only white wines may be labeled as Mâcon-Villages