Côte d'Or Flashcards
Côte d’Or Production?
5;550 ha producing some 250;000 hectolitres (2.75 million cases) of wine a year (all figures exclude generics); of which 75 % is Pinot Noir and 25% is Chardonnay.
Training Systems?
There are essentially two systems of training the adult vine: Guyot (Single; most widespread) and Cordon du Royat.
Rendement de base?
35 hl for grand cru rouge and 42 hl for premier cru and village wine.
Plafond limite de classement (PLC)?
Extended volume in excess of standard limit; possibility of an extra 20 percent above the maximum.
Rendement Moyen Décennal (RMD)?
10-year average; For instance; the permitted maximum yield for village and premier cru Gevrey-Chambertin is 47 hectolitres per hectare; or 470 over 10 years. Growers will be allowed to vary yields up and down; making it easier for them to adjust to climatic conditions; by a maximum of 3 hectolitres; provided the total does not exceed 470 hectolitres over 10 years. This is only for Côte d’Or.
Chaptalisation?
Chaptalisation is permitted up to a level which would increase the alcohol content of the wine by 2°.
Diseases?
Grey rot (especially Pinot); grape-worm (cochylis and eudemis moths).
The Côte de Nuits Principal Villages?
From north to south; are Gevrey-Chambertin; Morey-St-Denis; Chambolle-Musigny; Vougeot; Vosne-Romanée; Flagey-Échézeaux; and Nuits-St-Georges.
Côte de Nuits-Villages?
Communes of Brochon; Comblanchien; Corgoloin; Fixin and Premeaux. Just 7 ha under Chardonnay the rest is Pinot Noir.
Marsannay?
It is unique in Burgundy for having appellation contrôlée status for red; white; and pink wines. Marsannay is not serious Burgundy.
Fixin?
Appellation for red and whites; but very small production of whites.
Fixin Premier Cru`s?
Les Arvelets; Les Hervelets; Clos Napoléon; Clos du Chapître; and the best Clos de la Perrière.
Gevrey-Chambertin?
Gevrey-Chambertin is the largest of the great communes of the Côte de Nuits. This is only red wine appellation. Widely regarded as being the most full-bodied and masculine of the region which have earned Gevrey the title ‘King of Burgundy’.
Gevrey-Chambertin Grand Cru Sites?
Chambertin; Chambertin Clos de Beze; Chapelle-Chambertin; Charmes-Chambertin (incorporating Mazoyeres-Chambertin); Griotte-Chambertin; Latricieres-Chambertin; Mazis-Chambertin; and Ruchottes-Chambertin.
Le Chambertin (12.9 ha) terroir?
The geology offers two distinct units: the upper two-thirds are Premeaux limestone while the lower third has a subsoil of calcaire a entroques.
Clos de Bèze (15.4 ha) terroir?
The same altitude of 275 to 300 metres as Chambertin; but is marginally steeper; the geology broadly continues that of Chambertin.
Brochon?
50 ha in this village can be labeled as Gevrey-Chambertin.
Gevrey-Chambertin Premier Cru terroir?
The terroir of twenty-six premiers crus of Gevrey-Chambertin is characterized by a marginal continental climate and red; iron-rich; loam soils over marlstone and limestone sub-strata.
The best Gevrey-Chambertin Premier Cru vineyards?
Gevrey-Chambertin Premier Cru Aux Combottes and Gevrey-Chambertin Premier Cru Clos Saint-Jacques.
Other Prominent Gevrey-Chambertin Premier Cru Sites?
Les Cazetiers; Lavaux-Saint-Jacques; Les Goulots; Estournelles-Saint-Jacques;
Morey-Saint-Denis?
Production of both red and white wines; made from Pinot Noir and Chardonnay grapes (only 5%).
Morey-Saint-Denis soil?
The vines are planted on thin; well-drained; oolitic limestone on the higher slopes and richer soils with a high marlstone component on the lower slopes. The village-level vineyards are located on the lower and very highest slopes; while the Grand Crus and Premier Crus occupy the heart of the mid-slope.
Morey-Saint-Denis altitude?
As is standard for a Cote d’Or commune; Morey’s vineyards range in altitude from 245m to 365m.
Morey-Saint-Denis Grand Cru Sites?
Clos Saint-Denis; Clos de Tart; Clos de la Roche and Clos des Lambrays - also northern edge of the Bonnes-Mares climat; from Chambolle-Musigny.
Clos des Lambrays?
Monopole in ownership of Domaine des Lambrays.
Clos de Tart?
Monopoly of Mommessin S.A.
Morey-Saint-Denis Premier Cru?
There are currently twenty premiers crus; the best are probably Clos des Ormes and Les Milandes. There is a very little production of white wines.
Morey-Saint-Denis Monts Luisants?
Monts Luisants is a Premier Cru vineyard; monopole of Domaine Ponsot; source of a unique wine made from century-old Aligote vines.
Chambolle-Musigny terroir?
Marked by its high percentage of active limestone and its lack of clay. There is also less magnesium in the soil. It is a red wine appellation but there is a minute production of Musigny blanc.
Chambolle-Musigny Grand Crus?
Les Bonnes-Mares; Le Musigny.
Le Musigny?
The only grand cru with the exception of Corton which can be white as well as red.
Chambolle- Musigny Premier Cru?
There are 24 premiers crus; in whole or in part. Adjacent to Le Musigny lies the best premier cru Les Amoureuses. The next most sought-after premier cru; and the largest; is Les Charmes.
Vougeot?
Only 4.8 ha of vineyards producing village wine and 11.7 ha designated premier cru; the village’s fame rests squarely with the 50.6 ha grand cru; Clos de Vougeot.
Clos de Vougeot?
One of the largest grands crus in Burgundy but also the only one apart from Mazoyères/Charmes-Chambertin whose land runs right down to the main road. Wine can only be red.
Clos de Vougeot soil?
The top has a light chalky and gravelly soil on oolitic limestone which drains beautifully and gives the wines of greatest distinction; the middle section is on softer limestone with clay and some gravel; with moderate drainage on a very gentle slope. The bottom section; almost flat; stretching down to the main RN74 road; consists of poorly drained alluvial clay.
Vougeot Premier Cru?
Les Cras; La Vigne Blanche (Le Clos Blanc); Clos de la Perrière and Les Petits Vougeots (in part). The appellation allows both red and white wine; same as for village wine.
Vosne-Romanée?
The greatest Pinot Noir village on earth. There are around 100 ha of village wine. This is a red wine appellation only.
Vosne-Romanée Grand Cru (27ha)?
La Grande Rue; La Romanée-Saint-Vivant; Richebourg; La Tâche; La Romanée and La Romanée-Conti.
Romanée-Conti (1.81 ha)?
The soil is limono-argileux; a fine sandy clay mixture; in this case feeble in the sand content; brown in colour and mixed with pebbles and limestone scree. For most of the climat this is based on a subsoil of Prémeaux limestone. Monopoly of the Domaine de la Romanée-Conti.
La Romanée (0.85 ha)?
the smallest appellation contrôlée in France; lies directly upslope from Romanée-Conti and is separated from it by a path. The soil structure; however; is similar: again limono-argileux feeble in its sand fraction; mixed with pebbles; based on a friable Prémeaux limestone. The depth of surface soil; however; is much less. Monopoly of the Château de Vosne-Romanée; M. Le Comte Liger-Belair.
La Tache (6.06 ha)?
Number of different soil structures: decomposed limestone of the lower Bathonian period at the top; thinly covered by pebbles and limestone debris; and deeper; richer; more clayey soil at the bottom of the slope; in parts mixed with fossilised oyster deposits. Monopoly of the Domaine de la Romanée-Conti.
Richebourg (8.03 ha)?
It is made up of two lieux-dits: Les Richebourgs and Les Véroillessous- Richebourg. The soil structure is similar to that of Romanée-Conti; a pebbly clay-sand mixture with a low sand content; mixed with limestone debris; lying on the rosy Prémeaux rock of the lower Bathonian period. Indisputably the best of the non-monopoly grands crus of Vosne.
Romanée-Saint-Vivant (9.44 ha)?
The soil is heavier than in other grand crus; and there is more of it: a brown clay-limestone mixed with pebbles on a Bajocian marl base. The lightest; the most delicate and the most feminine of the Vosne grands crus.
La Grande Rue (1.65 ha)?
Monopoly of the Domaine François Lamarche; Vosne-Romanée. Became Grand Cru only in 1992.
Flagey-Echezeaux?
Small; often-forgotten commune; its commune-level and Premier Cru wines are sold as Vosne- Romanée. Two Grand Cru sites: Grands-Echézeaux and Echézeaux.
Grands-Echézeaux (9.14 ha)?
Relatively flat; at 260 metres; the brown soil is quite deep; a chalky limestone mixed with clay and pebbles on a Bajocian limestone base. Generally regarded as superior to Echézeaux; and priced accordingly.
Echézeaux (37.69 ha)?
Within Echézeaux there are a number of lieux-dits; not seen on labels; but important locally to locate a grower’s vines. Naturally in such a large vineyard; the terroir varies considerably. Echézeaux is; in general; a second-division grand cru.
Vosne-Romanée Premier Cru (58 ha)?
From south to north; they are Aux Malconsorts; Au-Dessus des Malconsorts; Les Chaumes; Clos des Réas; Les Gaudichots; Aux Reignots; Cros Parantoux; Les Petits Monts; Aux Brûlées; Les Beaux Monts (in part); Les Suchots and La Croix Rameau.
The Best Vosne-Romanée Premier Cru Sites?
Malconsorts; Suchots; Brûlées; Beaux-Monts and Cros Parantoux (plus; because it is so well made; Clos de Réas).
Echézeaux Premier Cru vineyards sold as Vosne-Romanée?
Les Rouges and En Orveaux.
Nuits-Saint-Georges?
There are 175.32 hectares of village wine; like Morey-Saint-Denis; but unlike most of the other villages in the Côte de Nuits; Nuits-Saint-Georges produces some small amount of white wine; both village and premier cru.
Nuits-Saint-Georges Premier Cru?
No grands crus but an impressive list of 27 premiers crus; plus another 9 in Prémeaux. The best known include Les St-Georges vineyard; also particularly fine are Les Cailles; Les Vaucrains; Les Murgers; Les Boudots; Les Argillières.
Nuits-Saint-Georges white Premier Cru?
Some white wine is also made from the Chardonnay grape; as in the Clos l’Arlot; and from the Pinot Blanc grape in Domaine Gouges’ premier cru Les Perrières.
Hautes-Côtes?
Hautes-Côtes-de-Nuits and Hautes-Côtes-de-Beaune - vineyards dispersed in the hills above the escarpment of the Côte d’Or; but at altitudes reaching 500 m/1;640 ft the grapes do not ripen easily.
Hautes-Côtes-de-Beaune most prolific villages?
Meloisey; Nantoux; and Échevronne.
Hautes-Côtes-de-Nuits most prolific villages?
Villars-Fontaine; Magny-lès-Villers; and Marey-lès-Fussey.
Hautes-Côtes Red Wines?
83% of production is red or rose wine from Pinot Noir; wine to buy in a warm; ripe year like 2003—the wines are then delicious; and some of the best values in Burgundy. Avoid the wines of a cold rainy vintage.
Hautes-Côtes White Wines?
There is a little; 17%; this is less successful than the red wine; tending to be a bit lean. The customer is better off with a Mâcon villages.
Côtes-de-Beaune Villages?
The wine—it can only be red—itself is soft; plump and fruity—an unpretentious Pinot Noir for early drinking that fills the gap between Bourgogne Rouge and Hautes-Côtes and the cheapest of the village wines.
Côte-de-Beaune Villages Names?
These are Auxey-Duresses; Blagny; Chassagne-Montrachet; Chorey-lès-Beaune; Côtede Beaune; Ladoix; Meursault; Monthelie; Pernand-Vergelesses; Puligny-Montrachet; Saint-Aubin; Saint-Romain; Santenay; Savigny-lès-Beaune and Maranges (i.e.; all the communes except Aloxe-Corton; Beaune; Pommard and Volnay).
Ladoix-Côte de Beaune?
The appellation from the village of Ladoix-Serrigny. There are 74 hectares of village land under vine; majority is reds but there is also a little white from Chardonnay. Much of this is sold as Côte-de-Beaune Villages.
Ladoix Premier Cru?
There are eleven premiers crus; in whole or in part that covers 22.75 ha; majority is Pinot Noir but there is also a production of Chardonnay.
Aloxe-Corton?
It can be red or white; but the proportion of white produced today is insignificant and is likely to incorporate some Pinot Beurot (akin to the Pinot Gris) in its encépagement. Around 90 ha devoted to the village appellation and 38 ha to premier cru vineyards.
Pernand-Vergelesses?
There are 72.14 hectares of village wine; equally shared between red (Pinot Noir) and white (Chardonnay; better known).
Pernand-Vergelesses Premier Cru?
The original six premiers crus; in whole or in part; are Creux de la Net (part); En Caradeux (part); La Croix-de-Pierre; Les Fichots; Ile-de-Vergelesses; and Les Vergelesses or Les Basses-Vergelesses.
Pernand-Vergelesses Premier Cru only for white wines?
The three recent additions are Le Clos du Village (monopoly of R. Rapet et Fils); Le Clos Berthet (monopoly of Dubreuil-Fontaine); and Sous Frétille.
The best Pernand-Vergelesses Premier Cru?
Ile-de-Vergelesses; contender for elevation to grand cru; compared with the top premiers crus of Volnay and Pommard; the wine is cheap. It can be one of Burgundy’s bargains.
Corton hill (160.19 ha)?
Split between the three villages; this represents 22.43 hectares in Ladoix; 120.51 in Aloxe-Corton and 17.26 in Pernand-Vergelesses. Out of the 160.19 hectares; 71.88 can produce Corton-Charlemagne.
Corton Terroir?
The Chardonnay is planted on the upper slopes in a whiteish coloured marl with a high clay content on a hard limestone rock base—Oxfordian rather than the older Bathonian or Bajocian in the Côte de Nuits. Further down the slope; there is more iron and pebbles but less clay in the soil; and the colour is redder. Here the Pinot produces the better wine; particularly on the more easterly facing slopes above Aloxe and Ladoix.
The best Corton lieux-dits?
Clos du Roi is generally considered the best; followed in no particular order by Les Bressandes; Le Corton; Les Perrières; Les Pougets; Les Grèves and Les Renardes.
Château Corton-Grancey?
Red brand of Maison Latour; a major proprietor in the area; produced from four areas of Domaine Latour Corton Grand Cru: Les Bressandes; Les Perrières; Les Grèves and Clos du Roi; the proportions of which vary depending on the vintage.
Corton-Charlemagne?
Chardonnay. Average of 2;280 hectoliters of wine a year (around 304;000 bottles of wine) representing more than 2 out of every 3 bottles of all the Grand Cru class white wine produced throughout the Côte de Nuits and Côte de Beaune.
Corton Blanc?
Only 5% of Corton wine is white (not including that which is sold as Corton-Charlemagne and Charlemagne). Les Vergennes and Les Languettes climats are planted with Chardonnay.
Savigny-lès-Beaune?
One of the largest of the Côte de Beaune communes with 383 hectares of vines. Majority of the vine is Pinot Noir; around 10% is Chardonnay. Good value wines.
Savigny-lès-Beaune Premier Cru?
The large Vergelesses climat and its three subsidiaries; all of which can call their wine Vergelesses; represent Savigny-lès-Beaune’s best wine. Aux Vergelesses (15.38 ha) La Bataillière (1.81 ha) Les Basses Vergelesses (1.68 ha) Les Talmettes (3.10 ha).
Chorey-lès-Beaune?
Nearly all the wine is red; and more than half of this is sold as Côte-de-Beaune Villages; the village being the major contributor to the appellation. There are no vineyards of Premier Cru status.
Beaune?
Beaune is the Côte d’Or’s third largest commune after Gevrey-Chambertin and Meursault; it is vinous capital of Burgundy; and home to such leading négociants as Louis Jadot; Joseph Drouhin; Louis Latour; and Bouchard Père et Fils.
Beaune Village Wine?
Today only some 98 hectares (8 of which are white) are declared.
Beaune Premier Cru?
321.66 ha; only 20 ha Ch. The finest vineyards are Les Grèves; Les Bressandes; Les Teurons; Les Avaux; and Les Champs Pimont.
Côte de Beaune?
Not to be confused with Côte-de-Beaune Villages; why these are not AC Beaune (which can be de-classified to Côte de Beaune; to further complicate matters); I can’timagine. 52 ha; small production of white wines as well.
Hospices de Beaune?
Charity auction which has taken place in Beaune annually since 1851 on the third Sunday in November; a key feature of the Burgundian calendar. The Hospices de Beaune also provides the occasion for ‘Les Trois Glorieuses’; the three great feasts held over the weekend.
Pommard?
Pommard; like Volnay but unlike Beaune; is an appellation for red wine only. There are 211.63 hectares of village wine in Pommard.
Pommard Terroir?
The percentage of active limestone in Pommard is high; and it is the reaction between this and the clays; of which Pommard also has more than Volnay and Beaune; which produces the typical fullness and sturdiness which is the Pommard character. Recent research has shown a similarity between these clays; or at least the electro-magnetic properties of their internal surface areas; and those of the villages of the Côte de Nuits.
The best Pommard Premier Cru?
On the Beaune side; the finest vineyards are Les Pézerolles and Les Épenots; including the Clos des Épeneaux monopole of Comte Armand. Towards Volnay; the most impressive premier cru vineyards include Les Chanlins; Les Jarolières; Les Fremiers; and; in particular; Les Rugiens.
Volnay?
There are 98.37 hectares of village Volnay which is only red wine appellation. While the geology is complex; the soils of Volnay are; in general; lighter than they are in Pommard; and it must be this which largely explains the delicacy of the wines.
Volnay Premier Cru?
There are thirty-five premiers crus; in whole or in part; which covers 136.28 hectares. For me there are five climats which seem to be a head or so above the rest: Les Caillerets; of course; Clos des Chênes; Taille Pieds; Les Champans; and Les Santenots du Milieu.
Santenots?
Because Meursault is renowned for its white wines; its single really fine red wine vineyard of Les Santenots is sold as Volnay Santenots; which has its own appellation. The best part of this vineyard is Les Santenots-du-Milieu.
Monthelie?
There are 99.45 hectares of village Monthelie; predominantly red wines made from Pinot Noir but there has been an increase in the past 30 years in its Chardonnay production.
Monthelie Premier Cru?
There are fifteen premiers crus; in whole or in part; which covers 40.45 hectares. Les Duresses; Meix Bataille and Champs Fulliot.
Auxey-Duresses?
There are 137.87 hectares of village wine. White wines are rather less expensive than village Meursaults but can often be as good; so they are a much better value. Red wine success and consistency are harder to find. Much of the wine is sold as Cote de Beaune-Villages.
Auxey-Duresses Premier Cru?
There are nine premiers crus; in whole or in part; and they cover 31.78 hectares; minute production of white wine. The Clos du Val is Auxey’s best site.
Saint-Romain?
The 135 hectares of village land produce equal quantities of red and white wine. There are no first growths in the commune; it is the only one in the Côte de Beaune apart from Chorey not to possess any.
Saint-Romain wine?
Produce good value white wines; especially in warmer vintages when the Meursaults and Pulignys are alcoholic; heavy and deficient in acidity. The red wines are hardly different from those of the Hautes-Côtes.
Meursault?
There are 304.95 hectares of village Meursault; less than five per cent is red wine; most of them is sold as Volnay Santenots.
Meursault Premier Cru?
Thirty premiers crus which cover 133.88 hectares; in practice almost all is white even theoretically they can produce either white or red.
Best Meursault Premier Cru vineyards?
Les Perrières; Les Genevrières; Les Charmes; Meursault-Blagny.
Blagny?
Blagny is a curious appellation; existing solely for red wines. If white; they become Meursault-Blagny; premier cru; or less commonly; Meursault followed by one of the names of the Blagny premiers crus.
Blagny Premier Cru?
There are eight premiers crus and this area totals 45.69 hectares; 24.74 hectares of which are in Meursault and 20.74 in Puligny-Montrachet. The best climats for red wines are La Pièce Sous le Bois (11.15 ha) (Meursault) and Sous le dos d’Ane (5.03 ha) (Meursault).
Puligny-Montrachet?
There are 114.22 hectares of village land; and less than 1 per cent is red. Soils are characteristically Burgundian; with a high content of limestone; especially on the slopes of the Cote d’Or.
Puligny-Montrachet Grand Cru?
There are five grands crus on the Puligny-Chassagne border: Le Montrachet (strictly Montrachet in Puligny and Le Montrachet in Chassagne; though not all labels agree with this); Chevalier-Montrachet; Bâtard- Montrachet; Bienvenues-Bâtard-Montrachet; and Croits-Bâtard-Montrachet. These comprise 32.5 ha.
Le Montrachet (8 ha) soil?
The soil is based on a hard Bathonian limestone topped with light brown limestone debris. There is Bajocian marl at the top of the climat and pebbles in the lower part. Overall; it is very stony.
Chevalier-Montrachet (7.36 ha)?
Chevalier-Montrachet never produces to excess; which is one explanation for the quality of its wines; which are clearly superior to Bâtard; Bienvenues and Criots.
Puligny-Montrachet Premier Cru?
26 premiers crus occupy 100.12 hectares. Apart from a little premier cru rouge from Le Cailleret; all premier cru Puligny-Montrachet is white. The climats of Hameau de Blagny; La Garenne and Sous le Puits; if planted with Pinot Noir; produce Blagny premier cru and not Puligny rouge.
The best Puligny-Montrachet Premier Cru vineyards?
Les Demoiselles (0.60 ha) and Le Cailleret (3.33 ha) are considered the best. The other: Les Pucelles (5.13 ha); Clos des Meix (1.63 ha); Le Clavoillon (or Clavaillon) (5.59 ha); Les (or Ex) Folatières (largest at 17.65 ha); Clos de la Garenne (1.53 ha); Les Combettes (6.76 ha).
Saint-Aubin?
156 hectares; and two thirds of what is produced is good value white wine.There are twenty-nine premiers crus in whole or in part which is in total 114.40 ha comparing to 44.4 ha of basic village wine.
Saint-Aubin Premier Cru?
Le Charmois on the Chassagne side; En Remilly; Les Murgersdes- Dents-de-Chien and La Chatenière on the Puligny side.
Gamay?
The commune boundaries of Saint-Aubin also include the village of Gamay.
Chassagne-Montrachet Grand Cru?
Chassagne shares the Le Montrachet and Bâtard-Montrachet vineyards with neighbouring Puligny and enjoys sole possession of a third grand cru; Criots-Bâtard-Montrachet.
Chassagne-Montrachet Premier Cru?
141.25 hectares and produce around 1;400 hectolitres of red wine and 4;500 hectolitres of white wine per year. 51 vineyards but many have the right to be sold under a more familiar name.
Best Chassagne-Montrachet Premier Cru Sites?
Among the premiers crus; the best known are Les Chenevottes; Clos de la Maltroie; En Cailleret; and Les Ruchottes. La Boudriotte and Morgeot; among the premiers crus; make excellent red wines; as can Clos St-Jean to the north of the village.
Chassagne-Montrachet Village Wine?
There are 150.08 hectares of village Chassagne-Montrachet. Over 75 percent of Chassagne-Montrachet premier cru is white wine; while just over 45 percent of village wine is this colour. This is logical. Most of the slope; excellent for Chardonnay; is premier cru. The lower lying land; more suitable for red wine; is village appellation contrôlée.
Santenay?
Two villages: Santenay-le-Haut and Santenay-le-Bas. Only Gevrey-Chambertin; Beaune and Meursault produce more wine. Village Santenay comprises 253.89 hectares and yields about 9;400 hectolitres of red wine and 800 hectolitres of white wine per year.
Santenay Premier Cru?
There are thirteen premiers crus; in whole or in part. These cover 124.29 hectares and produce about 5;400 hectolitres of red wine and 340 hectolitres of white wine per year.
The best Santenay Premier Cru vineyards?
Clos de Tavannes (5.32 ha) is the “grand cru” of Santenay; it is also good for Chardonnay. Other better sites are: La Comme; Les Gravières; La Maladière; and Clos Rousseau.
Maranges?
Maranges is where the “Golden Slope” comes to its end. Three villages; Cheilly; Dezize and Sampigny were combined in 1989 to form a single appellation; the vignoble of Maranges.
Maranges wine?
Village Maranges occupies 136.77 hectares and produces some 5;400 hectolitres of red wine and 150 hectolitres of white wine per year.
Maranges Premier Cru?
There are ten premiers crus which comprise 82.51 hectares and produce 2;700 hectolitres of red wine per year.
1 hectare?
1 hectare - 100 ares - 10;000 square metres - 2.471 acres.
1 hectolitre?
1 hectolitre - 100 litres - 22 gallons - 133.3 bottles - 11.1 cases.
Burgundian pièce?
1 Burgundian pièce - 228 litres - 304 bottles - 25.33 cases.
Burgundian cask sizes?
A Feuillette is a half-size cask; a Quarteau is a quarter- size cask. A Queue is two pièces; a Tonneau four. A Demi-muid is an undefined term for a larger cask. Today; demi-muids of 500- or 600-litre capacity are becoming increasingly common for white wines.
Ouvrée?
An ouvrée corresponds to the amount of land one worker can cultivate by hand in one day. It measures 4.285 ares.
Journal?
A journal (plural journaux) is the equivalent of the area one worker can cultivate per day with the help of a horse and plough. A journal equals 8 ouvrées. There are 2.92 journaux per hectare.
Fermage?
Simple rental arrangement; in which the tenant paid in cash; after which he was a free man; but responsible for all expenses.
Métayage?
Share-cropping agreement; in which the landlord usually continued to pay the capital costs (replanting and so on) and was recompensed with a portion; normally half; of the fruit.
What is a clone?
A clone is a population of vines all deriving from the same mother plant. Each vine will be genetically the same as its neighbour. The advantage of clonal selection is that clones; by and large; are more resistant to disease and crop more uniformly. Their disadvantages? Uniformity; a lack of variety.
What is a sélection massale?
Propagation from a number of the vineyard’s own most successful plants will bring with it all the defects of these plants; but it will also give diversity.
Cold-soaking?
Cold-soaking; however; is a relative term. It should not be “cold.” It should ideally be at 13-15°. If too cold; at 10° or less; it is a waste of time. Nothing will happen. There will be no extraction of flavour and little of colour.
Pigeage?
Pigeage is the treading down of the “cap” of solid matter (grape skins and pips) which tends to rise up to the surface of the fermenting must. The object is threefold: to break up the cap and keep it submerged in the juice; to speed up the extraction; and to equalise the temperature. Normally this was done twice a day; for half an hour or so; while the wine was fermenting; and for a few days after that.
Lès?
The lès; with an accent; meaning “by” or “near to”; like in Savigny-lès-Beaune.
What does the wine term “sauvage” mean?
Sauvage is a French term meaning “wild” or “natural.” There are three things it might refer to. First; when appearing in a tasting note; it might mean gamy; earthy or forest floor flavors. Second; it might reference a wine that was fermented with wild or indigenous yeasts. Finally; it can refer to a sparkling wine; to indicate that no dosage has been added; making it very dry; even drier than a brut sparkling wine.
Terroir?
‘Different landscapes’ that make site-specific wines - expression you can use if you hate the word terroir.
