Cote d' Or- Burgundy Flashcards
Clos St Jacques
Known for its quality in Gevery- Chambertin, but is a Premier Cru, but rivals Grand Cru
Marsannay
Simple, elegant, but expensive
Chambolle- Musigny
More feminine, fruit
Gevery- Chambertin
More structured. Dark fruits.
Cote d’ Or- Cote Du Nuit and Cote De Beaune:
Icon of Chardonnay. 50% Bourgogne. 30% Village, 12% Premier Cru, 3% Grand Cru. Cote Du Nuit- Red Burgundy: full bodied, powerful. Most Grand Cru Reds (more complexity, longer age abilities). Some Premier Crus in Cote Du Nuit have bigger reputations than Grand Cru.
Vosne-Romanee
Too of the top, “pearl of the Cote”
Cote De Beaune
Makes some of the best whites, but more red planted than white. Limestone on clay. Pinot- clay, L/ Stone- Chard. Red- Volnay, Pommard, Beaune. White- Chasagne, Pulligny, Meusault- No Grand Cru
Puligny
More Elegant and Limestone, Chasagne- Sweeter, lush because of more clay.
Pommard/ Volnay
Not as well known as the reds of the Cote Du Nuit but better priced.
Corton
Only Grand Cru in Cote Du Beaune. Can produce Reds and White. But if it is labelled Corton- Charlemagne, exclusively White
lieu dit (FR)
a named site or vineyard that is not neccesarily designated separately as a Premier or Grand Cru, but may be within a Premier or Grand Cru site
Cote d’ Or
Planted on a narrow band of slopes facing east or south- east, benefiting from maximum sun exposure.
The Morvan Hills behind the v/yards offer protection. Limestone and marl soils.
The Cote d’ Or is split into the Cote de Nuit and the Cote de Beaune
Cote de Nuits
Full bodied Pinot Noir with ageing potential. All grand cru reds except Corton found on the Cote de Nuits. Key communes (key grand cru sites in brackets) of the Cote de Nuits from North to South are: Marsannay, Fixin, Gevrey Chambertin (Chambertin, Chambertin- Clos de Beze, Charmes- Chambertin), Morey- St Denis (Clos de la Roche, Clos Saint Denis, Clos de Lambrays, Clos de Tart), Chambolle- Musigny (Le Musigny, Bonnes Marres), Vougeot (Clos de Vougeot), Vosne- Romanee (Richebourg, Romanee- Conti, La Tache and La Romanee), Grand Echezeaux (Echezeaux), Nuits- Saint- Georges.
Domaine de la Romanee- Conti- Region of Production
Cote d Or
Domaine de la Romanee- Conti- Winery Location
Vosne- Romanee
Domaine de la Romanee- Conti- Year Established
1869
Domaine de la Romanee- Conti- Summary
The Domaine de la Romanée-Conti (DRC) is widely considered the greatest red wine domaine in Burgundy. Its modern history can be traced to the 1869 purchase of Romanée-Conti by Jacques-Marie Duvault-Blochet, a Santenay-based négociant. However, the domaine’s most famous vineyard’s history goes back much further and is laid-out well in Richard Olney’s book titled Romanée-Conti. The vineyard’s most famous proprietor was Louis-François de Bourbon, Prince de Conti, who purchased what was then-known as La Romanée in 1760. The vineyard’s production was reserved for the prince’s table for the next 30+ years until the French Revolution and the resulting confiscation of clergy and nobility lands. The prince’s surname was appended to the vineyard’s name when it was auctioned off as a biens nationaux to emphasize its famous history; the greatest vineyard in Burgundy has been known as Romanée-Conti ever since. In 1942, Duvault-Blochet’s heirs, Edmond Gaudin de Villaine and Jacques Chambon, transformed the domaine into a société civile by splitting the shares equally between their families to prevent the domaine’s fracture when Jacques Chambon wanted to sell his portion. Henri Leroy, a négociant and personal friend of de Villaine, purchased Chambon’s half of the domaine and his heirs still own it. Today, Edmond de Villaine’s son, Aubert de Villaine, and Henry Leroy’s grandson, Henri-Frédéric Roch, oversee the domaine. In 1963, the domaine first purchased vines in Montrachet, and signed a lease for Prince Florent de Merode’s Corton vines in 2008. All farming has been organic since 1986 and biodynamic since 2007. The average vine age is 40-50 years. Re-planting is done by selection massale taken from Romanée-Conti’s pre-phylloxera vines prior to their removal in 1945.
Domaine de la Romanee- Conti- Vineyard Holdings
29.27 ha total
Romanée-Conti Grand Cru (monopole): 1.81 ha Pinot Noir
La Tâche Grand Cru (monopole): 6.06 ha Pinot Noir
Richebourg Grand Cru: 3.51 ha Pinot Noir
Romanée-Saint-Vivant Grand Cru: 5.29 ha Pinot Noir
Grands-Echézeaux Grand Cru: 3.53 ha Pinot Noir
Echézeaux Grand Cru: 4.67 ha Pinot Noir
Corton Bressandes Grand Cru: 1.19 ha Pinot Noir
Corton Clos du Roi Grand Cru: 0.57 ha Pinot Noir
Corton Renardes Grand Cru: 0.51 ha Pinot Noir
Le Montrachet Grand Cru: 0.68 ha Chardonnay
Bâtard-Montrachet Grand Cru: 0.17 ha Chardonnay
Domaine de la Romanee- Conti- Average Total Production
7,000 cases
Domaine de la Romanee- Conti- Top Wines Produced
omanée-Conti Grand Cru (monopole)
La Tâche Grand Cru (monopole)
Richebourg Grand Cru
Romanée-Saint-Vivant Grand Cru
Grands-Echézeaux Grand Cru
Echézeaux Grand Cru
Corton Grand Cru: blended from the three Corton lieux-dits.
Le Montrachet Grand Cru
Vosne-Romanée “Cuvée Duvault-Blochet” Premier Cru: produced in certain vintages from the domaine’s small holdings in Gaudichots, Petits Monts, and Au-Dessus de Malconsorts as well as second crop from the grand crus.
Domaine de la Romanee- Conti- Inaugural Vintages
Montrachet Grand Cru (1965), Vosne-Romanée “Cuvée Duvault-Blochet” Premier Cru (1999), and Corton Grand Cru (2009)
Domaine de la Romanee- Conti- Brief Description of Style / Vinification Techniques
Each of the domaine’s wines are long-lived. A team of 90 pickers sorts the grapes in the vineyard before delivery to the winery where they are sorted once more prior to vinification. The domaine is usually one of the last to harvest in Montrachet, its Chardonnay is whole-cluster pressed and the juice settles overnight. After racking, the wine ferments in 100% new Tronçais barrels. Currently, the domaine is experimenting with tapping barrels with reeds to create vibration and activate the lees instead of direct bâtonnage. Montrachet is usually fined and bottled in November or December following harvest. For red wines, grapes ferment as whole clusters if the fruit is clean enough and they are partially de-stemmed if the weather has been difficult. The grapes are cooled prior to fermentation, which occurs in open-top wood fermenters. Pigeage takes place twice a day after fermentation begins, and the wine averages 17-21 days on the skins. After pressing the wines age in 98% new oak for 18-22 months before it is bottled without fining or filtering. Wines are blended and bottled six barrels at a time using a bottling tank, to eliminate bottle variation that would occur were each barrel bottled individually.
Armand Rousseau- Region of production
Côte de Nuits
Armand Rousseau- Winery Location
Gevrey-Chambertin
Armand Rousseau- Year Established
1909
Armand Rousseau- Summary
Considering the average Burgundy domaine owns just tiny parcels of famous vineyards, it’s easy to see why Domaine Armand Rousseau is held in such universally high regard. This is a 13-hectare domaine with a whopping eight of those hectares in top Gevrey and Morey grand crus (see below for full details). Armand Rousseau started the domaine in 1909; he increased the vineyard holdings in the 1920s and 1930s and, upon the advice of Raymond Baudoin (founder of the Revue des Vins de France), Armand began domaine-bottling in the 1930s. Armand’s son Charles is widely credited with establishing the domaine’s worldwide acclaim. Charles’s son (Eric) runs the domaine today.
Armand Rousseau- Key Vineyard Holdings
13.5 ha total
Chambertin Grand Cru: 2.15 ha Pinot Noir, planted 1930-1997
Chambertin Clos de Bèze Grand Cru: 1.42 ha Pinot Noir, planted 1935-2000
Charmes-Chambertin Grand Cru: 1.37 ha Pinot Noir, planted 1948-1990
Ruchottes-Chambertin “Clos des Ruchottes” Grand Cru: 1.06 ha Pinot Noir, planted 1950-2003
Mazis-Chambertin Grand Cru: 0.53 ha Pinot Noir, planted in 1945 and 1978
Clos de la Roche Grand Cru: 1.48 ha Pinot Noir, planted 1961-2008
Gevrey-Chambertin Clos Saint-Jacques Premier Cru: 2.22 ha Pinot Noir, planted 1935-1993
Gevrey-Chambertin Les Cazetiers Premier Cru: 0.60 ha Pinot Noir, planted in 1948
Gevrey-Chambertin Lavaux Saint-Jacques Premier Cru: 0.47 ha Pinot Noir, planted 1948-1996
Armand Rousseau- Average Total Production
5,500 cases
Armand Rousseau- Top Wines Produced
Chambertin Grand Cru
Chambertin Clos de Bèze Grand Cru
Charmes-Chambertin Grand Cru
Ruchottes-Chambertin “Clos des Ruchottes” Grand Cru
Mazis-Chambertin Grand Cru
Clos de la Roche Grand Cru
Gevrey-Chambertin Clos Saint-Jacques Premier Cru
Gevrey-Chambertin Les Cazetiers Premier Cru
Gevrey-Chambertin Lavaux Saint-Jacques Premier Cru
Armand Rousseau- Inaugural Vintages
domaine-bottling began in the 1930s
Armand Rousseau- Brief Description of Style / Vinification Techniques
Eric Rousseau claims there are no real “secrets” to the quality of his wines: just old vines in top vineyard sites, pruned short with low yields, and careful farming. At harvest, the grapes are sorted in the vineyard and 90% de-stemmed—but not crushed. Fermentations start (without adding yeast) after four or five days of cold soak, and the wines are pumped over at the start of fermentation for oxygenation, then punched down in the latter stages. The wines spend 18-20 days on the skins and are settled for 24 hours after pressing. The Chambertin and Chambertin Clos de Bèze are aged in 100% new oak, the Clos Saint-Jacques is aged in 80% new oak, and the remaining grands and premiers crus are aged in once-used (or older) barrels. The wines spend 18 months in oak with one racking and are filtered prior to bottling.
Dujac- Region of production
Côte de Nuits
Dujac- Winery Location
Morey-Saint-Denis
Dujac- Year Established
1967
Dujac- Summary
Domaine Dujac is a relatively recent creation (at least in Burgundian terms): Jacques Seysses began his own estate with the purchase of the 4.5-hectare Domaine Graillet in 1967. He steadily added to his vineyard holdings, increasing the size of the domaine to 11.5 hectares by the time his children, Alec and Jeremy—along with Jeremy’s wife, Diana Snowden—joined the domaine. Viticulture has been organic and biodynamic for some time, clones are no longer used for any re-plantings, and the vines are pruned short with extra buds removed to assure a balanced crop and healthy fruit. In 2005, the domaine added four hectares of vines to their holdings by joining Etienne de Montille in the purchase of Domaine Thomas Moillard. Dujac Fils et Père is a négociant offshoot of Domaine Dujac that also produces excellent wines.
Dujac- Key Vineyard Holdings
15 ha total
Clos Saint-Denis Grand Cru: 1.29 ha Pinot Noir; 35-year-old vines
Clos de la Roche Grand Cru: 1.95 ha Pinot Noir; 30-year-old vines
Echézeaux Grand Cru: 0.69 ha Pinot Noir; 25-year-old vines
Bonnes Mares Grand Cru: 0.58 ha Pinot Noir; 30-year-old vines
Chambertin Grand Cru: 0.29 ha Pinot Noir; 40-year-old vines
Romanée Saint-Vivant Grand Cru: 0.16 ha Pinot Noir; 60-year-old vines
Gevrey-Chambertin Aux Combottes Premier Cru: 1.15 ha Pinot Noir; 30-year-old vines
Vosne-Romanée Aux Malconsorts Premier Cru: 1.57 ha Pinot Noir; 45-year-old vines
Morey-Saint-Denis Monts Luisants Premier Cru: 0.6 ha Chardonnay, planted in 1997
Dujac- Top Wines Produced
Clos Saint-Denis Grand Cru
Clos de la Roche Grand Cru
Echézeaux Grand Cru
Bonnes Mares Grand Cru
Chambertin Grand Cru
Romanée Saint-Vivant Grand Cru
Gevrey-Chambertin Aux Combottes Premier Cru
Vosne-Romanée Aux Malconsorts Premier Cru
Morey-Saint-Denis Monts Luisants Premier Cru (Chardonnay)
Dujac- Inaugural Vintages
the first wines at Dujac were made in 1969.
Dujac- Brief Description of Style / Vinification Techniques:
The wines of Domaine Dujac have evolved since Jacques Seysses stepped back from the day-to-day management of the domaine. Jacques was well-known for favoring 100% whole clusters and 100% new oak for his wines, but now the red grapes are partially de-stemmed if vintage conditions require—the Gevrey-Chambertin grapes are always partially de-stemmed as the domaine now feels (like Eric Rousseau) that the fruit of Gevrey-Chambertin does not suit whole-cluster vinification as much. The village-level wines today are aged in 20-25% new oak, while the premier crus see 50-75% new oak, and the grand crus see 70-100% new oak. The wines age 12-16 months in barrel and are bottled unfiltered and usually without fining.
Faiveley- Region of production
Burgundy
Faiveley- Winery Location
Nuit- St- Georges
Faiveley- Year Established
1825
Faiveley- Summary
Since Pierre Faiveley founded the domaine in 1825, Domaine Faiveley has been built up piece by piece, amassing some of the largest holdings in Burgundy. Erwan Faiveley represents the seventh generation of his family to lead the domaine and has continued to grow its holdings, purchasing Domaine Annick Parent and Domaine Monnot in 2007, and Domaine Dupont-Tisserandot in 2010. While the business remains a négociant, over 80% of the firm’s wines come from owned vineyards in the Côte d’Or and Côte Chalonnaise.
Faiveley- Vineyard Holdings
123 ha total
Corton Clos des Cortons Faiveley Grand Cru (monopole): 3 ha Pinot Noir, planted in 1956, 1965, 1967, 1971, and 1977
Chambertin Clos de Bèze Grand Cru: 1.29 ha Pinot Noir, planted in 1949, 1955, 1966 and 1983
Clos de Vougeot Grand Cru: 1.29 ha Pinot Noir, planted in 1940, 1974, and 1980
Echézeaux Grand Cru: 0.83 ha Pinot Noir, planted in 1941 and 1955
Latricières-Chambertin Grand Cru: 1.21 ha Pinot Noir, planted in 1958, 1984, and 1989
Mazis-Chambertin Grand Cru: 1.20 ha Pinot Noir, planted in 1937, 1959, and 1974
Musigny Grand Cru: 0.03 ha Pinot Noir, planted in 1945
Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru: 0.62 ha Chardonnay, planted in 1961 and 1988
Bâtard-Montrachet Grand Cru: 0.5 ha Chardonnay, planted in 1991
Bienvenues-Bâtard-Montrachet Grand Cru: 0.51 ha Chardonnay, planted in 1978
Gevrey-Chambertin Clos des Issarts Premier Cru (monopole): 0.61 ha Pinot Noir, planted in 1970
Beaune Clos de l’Écu Premier Cru (monopole): 2.37 ha Pinot Noir, planted in 1948, 1980, 1989, and 1991
Faiveley- Top Wines Produced
Corton Clos des Cortons Faiveley Grand Cru (monopole)
Chambertin Clos de Bèze “Les Ouvrées Rodin” Grand Cru: from the oldest vines
Chambertin Clos de Bèze Grand Cru
Clos de Vougeot Grand Cru
Echézeaux Grand Cru
Latricières-Chambertin Grand Cru
Mazis-Chambertin Grand Cru
Musigny Grand Cru
Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru
Bâtard-Montrachet Grand Cru
Bienvenues-Bâtard-Montrachet Grand Cru
Gevrey-Chambertin Clos des Issarts Premier Cru (monopole)
Beaune Clos de l’Écu Premier Cru (monopole)
Faiveley- Inaugural Vintages
Chambertin Clos de Bèze “Les Ouvrées Rodin” Grand Cru (2009)
Faiverley- Brief Description of Style / Vinification Techniques
The grapes are sorted in the winery on a sorting table prior to vinification. Lower-tier white wines are vinified in stainless steel tanks prior to barrel-aging, but the Puligny-Montrachet wines and all grands crus are barrel-fermented. The white wines do not see any bâtonnage, but the barrels are rolled every two or three weeks to incorporate the lees. Red grapes are 100% de-stemmed before vinification in stainless steel or wooden tanks. No yeasts are added, the fermentations are kept cool between 26-28° C, and pigeage is regularly practiced. The wines are pressed to barrel where they age for 18 months in oak prior to being bottled without fining or filtering.
Vougeot
Small village in the Côte de Nuits district of Burgundy producing red wines from the Pinot Noir grape. The name is derived from the diminutive of Vouge, a small stream flowing through the village. There are only 4.8 ha/11.8 acres 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. The fame of Clos de Vougeot is historical since it was the flagship vineyard of the Cistercians, who planted and enclosed what is significantly the largest grand cru vineyard of the Côte d’Or. Geologically, this is not a homogeneous site: the top, abutting Musigny and Grands Échézeaux, has a light calcareous 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 D974 road, consists of poorly drained alluvial clay. When the wines could be blended by the monks to produce a complete wine from differing constituent parts, Clos de Vougeot doubtless deserved its reputation. Now that the vineyard is fragmented between 80 or more owners, too many of the wines are below standard through the inadequacies of some of the raw material and many of the production techniques of the less conscientious producers. Classic Clos de Vougeot is likely to be dense and ungiving when young, robust rather than elegant. However, after a decade it opens out into one of the most complete wines of the Côte d’Or with deep, rich flavours reminiscent of truffles and undergrowth. Of the premier cru vineyards, Le Clos Blanc, the monopoly of Domaine de la Vougeraie in succession to Héritiers Guyot, has produced white wine since first planted by the monks in 1110. The other premier crus are les Cras, les Petits Vougeots, and Clos de la Perrière, monopoly of Domaine Bertagna. Reliable producers of Clos de Vougeot include Château de la Tour (the largest owners), Méo-Camuzet, Anne Gros, and Domaine d’Eugénie.
Clos de Vougeot
Also frequently known as Clos Vougeot, famous walled vineyard in burgundy created originally by the monks (see monks and monasteries) of Cîteaux. Between the 12th and early 14th centuries the Cistercians purchased or received as donations the land, much of which needed clearing and planting, which subsequently became known as the Clos de Vougeot. By 1336, the 50-ha/120-acre plot was complete and enclosed by stone walls on all sides. The Cistercians maintained ownership until the French Revolution, when all clerical estates were dispossessed, although Dom Goblet, the monk responsible for the vineyards and the wine, had a sufficiently fine reputation to retain his job in the short term. In due course, Clos de Vougeot was sold on to Julien-Jules Ouvrard in 1818, the year before he bought romanée-Conti, and remained in single ownership until 1889. Since then ownership has fragmented so that today there are over 80 proprietors. A small chapel and rudimentary buildings, damaged during the religious wars, were rebuilt and enlarged in 1551, becoming the current Ch du Clos de Vougeot, a major tourist attraction. It is also home to the confrérie des Chevaliers du Tastevin, a brotherhood which organizes copious feasts and the tastings for the Tastevinage. For this, producers submit wines to a jury; those selected are entitled to use the ‘tasteviné’ label, which should enable the wine to be sold more easily or at a higher price.
Gevery- Chambertin
Small town in the Côte de Nuits producing some of Burgundy’s most famous red wines from Pinot Noir grapes. The area allowed the appellation was sharply reduced in the late 1990s to exclude some less favoured land towards the plain, but with about 400 ha/1,000 acres under vine, including an overflow of vineyards into neighbouring Brochon, which does not have its own appellation, as well as 87 ha/215 acres of grands crus, this is still the largest viticultural source in the Côte d’Or. In 1847, Gevrey annexed the name of its finest vineyard, Chambertin, somewhat tediously dubbed the king of wines and wine of kings (although it was in fact the Emperor Napoleon’s favourite wine). Gevrey-Chambertin wines are typically deeper in colour and firmer than their rivals from Vosne-Romanée and Chambolle-Musigny. Good examples may take time to develop into perhaps the richest and most complete wines of the Côte d’Or. Given the ease with which the village name sells, there used to be plenty of under-achievers in Gevrey-Chambertin, especially at grand cru level, but the quality of wines today from producers such as Denis Bachelet, Alain Burguet, Pierre Damoy, Claude Dugat, Dugat-Py, Duroché, Sylvie Esmonin, Fourrier, Géantet-Pansiot, Harmand-Geoffroy, Denis Mortet, Rossignol-Trapet, the exceptional Armand Rousseau, Sérafin, and Trapet is reassuring. In all, Gevrey boasts nine grands crus, the pick of which are Chambertin and Chambertin-Clos de Bèze. The latter, comprising 15.4 ha/38 acres, may equally be sold as Le Chambertin. It is hard to differentiate between the two qualitatively although Clos de Bèze is slightly further up the hill than Chambertin, with a less deep soil, giving wines which are fractionally less powerful but full of sensual charm. Le Chambertin, 12.9 ha (plus the 15.4 of Clos de Bèze), is the flagship: if not quite as sumptuous as Musigny or Richebourg, or as divinely elegant as La Tâche or Romanée-St-Vivant, Chambertin is matched only by Romanée-Conti (see vosne-romanée) for its completeness and its intensity. Two other grand cru vineyards, Mazis-Chambertin and Latricières-Chambertin, lie on the same level as Chambertin and Clos de Bèze; one, Ruchottes-Chambertin, is to be found a little higher up the slope, while Charmes-Chambertin, Mazoyères-Chambertin, Griotte-Chambertin, and Chapelle-Chambertin are further downhill. Mazis-Chambertin (12.59 ha), also written Mazy-, is usually regarded as being next in quality to Chambertin and Clos de Bèze, especially in the upper part, les Mazis Haut. The flavours are just as intense, the structure perhaps just a little less firm. Latricières (6.94 ha) is less powerful, although the wines are explosively fruity when young, with an entrancingly silky texture, especially when a sunny vintage warms up the cool clay soil. Ruchottes (3.50 ha), thanks to a particularly thin calcareous soil, is lighter in colour, angular in style, but again impressively intense in a fine, lacy style. Griotte-Chambertin (5.48 ha), which possibly owes its name to the grill-pan shape of the vineyard rather than the griottes cherry aromas which the wine seems to have, and Chapelle-Chambertin (5.39 ha) are also a touch lighter in style. Charmes-Chambertin covers 31.6 ha if Mazoyères-Chambertin is included, which is usually the case. Together this constitutes the largest grand cru in the village and, as with Clos de Vougeot and Échezeaux, its size precludes homogeneous quality. Some of the vineyard, such as the part stretching down to the main road, the D974, should perhaps not be classified as grand cru, although a good Charmes is one of Gevrey-Chambertin’s most seductive, fragrant wines when young. Some of the grands crus are matched, if not surpassed, by the best of the premier cru vineyards, especially those with an ideal south eastern exposition such as Les Cazetiers and Clos St-Jacques. Indeed, Domaine Armand Rousseau, the most famous name in Gevrey thanks to the eponymous Armand’s pioneering domaine bottling in the 1930s, charges significantly more for Clos St-Jacques than for several grands crus in an impressive range of wines.
Chambertin
Chambertin-Clos de Bèze, Chapelle-Chambertin, Charmes-Chambertin, Griotte(s)-Chambertin, Latricières-Chambertin, Mazis-Chambertin, Mazoyères-Chambertin, and Ruchottes-Chambertin, great red grands crus in Burgundy’s côte d’or.
Climats
French, particularly Burgundian, term for a specific vineyard site defined by, as the name suggests, all of its climatological as well as geographical characteristics, otherwise known as terroir. Thus the Burgundian grower uses the word climat interchangeably with ‘vineyard’. A climat is generally but not always smaller than a specific appellation. The term climat may for example be used to refer to a grand cru such as Richebourg. To further complicate matters, most appellations have over the centuries been subdivided into small parcels, each with its own traditional name, known by local geographers as a lieu-dit.
Nuits- Saint- Georges
Small market town in Burgundy giving its name to the Côte de Nuits, the northern half of the Côte d’Or. Nuits-St-Georges has remained fully independent of beaune to the south and Dijon to the north, with numerous négociants making their headquarters here. The town also boasts its own charity auction, the Hospices de Nuits, held in March, when the wines can be better judged than those of the hospices de beaune in November. The appellation Nuits-St-Georges can be divided into three parts. North of Nuits, abutting Vosne, the wines combine elegance with a rich, heady quality. The heartiest wines, deepest in colour and most tannic, come from the heartland just south of the town, while furthest south, in the commune of Prémeaux, the wines are a little lighter, and should not be over-extracted. Whereas the Intendant Bouchu noted in 1666 a preference for Nuits, ‘where the wine is excellent’, over Prémeaux, ‘where the wine is of good quality’, the king of Saxony specifically ordered in 1780 ‘the wine of Prémeaux, the colour of the stained glass windows of La Sainte Chapelle’. Nuits boasts 27 premier cru vineyards but no grands crus, perhaps because the town’s leading vigneron, Henri Gouges, was too modest when the classifications were agreed in the 1930s. However, a dossier has been prepared to promote the eponymous Les St-Georges vineyard, first singled out as early as the 11th century, has always been cited as of the highest quality. Also particularly fine in the southern Nuits-St-Georges sector are Les Cailles and Les Vaucrains, both adjacent to Les St-Georges, while Les Murgers and Les Boudots on the Vosne-Romanée side and Clos St Marc, Clos des Forêts, and Clos de la Maréchale in Prémeaux have good reputations. 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. Top producers include Henri Gouges, Robert Chevillon, Domaine de l’Arlot, Thibault Liger-Belair, Patrice Rion, and growers in neighbouring vosne-romanée such as Arnoux and Grivot.
Vosne- Romanee
Village in the Côte de Nuits district of Burgundy’s côte d’or producing arguably the finest red wines made anywhere from Pinot Noir grapes (see map under burgundy). As well as excellent wines at village and premier cru level, there are six grand cru vineyards, three of which share the name Romanée, the suffix to which Vosne was hyphenated in 1866. The grands crus are Romanée-Conti, La Romanée, La Tâche, Richebourg, Romanée-St-Vivant, and La Grande Rue. Between them they produce, with Musigny and Chambertin, the greatest wines of the Côte de Nuits. They have more finesse than any other but to this is allied as much power and stuffing as their nearest rivals. A vineyard formerly known as Le Cloux was rechristened La Romanée in 1651, presumably on account of Roman remains being discovered nearby. In 1760, the property was bought by the Prince de Conti, subsequently becoming known as Romanée-Conti. Just above this sublime vineyard, whose wines can be the most expensive in the world, is La Romanée. Romanée-Conti has brown, calcareous soil about 60 cm/23 in deep with 45 to 49% clay and liable to serious erosion in the upper, steeper part. La Romanée also has a notably steep slope with less clay and more rendzina in the make-up of the soil. The former is the monopoly of the domaine de la romanée-conti (DRC), the latter of Comte Liger-Belair. About 300 cases are made each year from the tiny 0.84 ha/2 acres of La Romanée, double that is produced from the 1.80 ha of Romance-Conti. Another monopoly of the Domaine de la Romanée-Conti, and regarded as nearly as fine as the vineyard from which it takes its name, is La Tâche, whose 6 ha (including the vineyard of Les Gaudichots, which used to be separate but is regarded as being of the same quality) produce a wine which is explosively seductive even when young, whereas Romanée-Conti takes longer to show its astonishing completeness. La Tâche seems to thrive even in lesser years, being judged the only wine worthy of bottling by the Domaine de la Romanée-Conti in 1950 and 1951. The next most sought-after Vosne-Romanée wine is Richebourg, whose 8 ha are shared between ten growers, notably Domaine de la Romanée-Conti, Domaine leroy Grivot, branches of the Gros family, and Domaine Méo-Camuzet. As the name suggests, this is one of the most voluptuous wines of Burgundy and can equal La Tâche in some years. Romanée-St-Vivant, taking its name from the monastery of St-Vivant founded at Vergy c.900 and subsequent owner of the vineyard, can also make very fine wine but it is usually lighter and less powerful than its neighbours, being further down the slope and having deeper soil. There are half a dozen owners, of which the largest is Domaine de la Romanée-Conti (5.3 ha out of 9.43). Domaine Leroy and Louis latour’s Domaine de Corton Grancey are the next largest owners. Between La Tâche to the south and La Romanée-Conti to the north lie the 1.4 ha of La Grande Rue, originally classified as premier cru but promoted, as its location suggests is only right, to grand cru. The vineyard is a monopoly of Domaine Lamarche. Among the best of Vosne-Romanée’s premier cru vineyards are Les Malconsorts on the Nuits-St-Georges side, Cros Parantoux made famous by Henry Jayer, above the grands crus, and Les Beauxmonts and Les Suchots abutting Flagey-Échézeaux. Part of Les Beauxmonts is actually in the latter commune, although it is sold as Vosne-Romanée, as is the village wine of Flagey. While the renown of the Domaine de la Romanée-Conti dominates Vosne-Romanée, it should not overshadow other significant influences: Henri Jayer, for his unparalleled winemaking skills; René Engel for his patriarchal influence and local historical research and publications; Lalou Bize-leroy, who has bought and transformed the former Domaine Nöellat. Other particularly fine domaines are those owned by the various members of the Gros family, Domaine Jean Grivot, and Sylvain Cathiard.
Chambolle- Musigny
Village and appellation of particular charm in the Côte de Nuits district of Burgundy producing red wines from Pinot Noir grapes. A fine Chambolle-Musigny has a rich, velvety elegance which rivals the finesse of Vosne-Romanée or the power of Gevrey-Chambertin. There are two grand cru vineyards, Le Musigny and Bonnes Mares (in part), and some exceptional premiers crus worthy of promotion. Le Musigny ranks with Romanée-Conti, La Tâche, Richebourg, Chambertin, and Chambertin-Clos de Bèze as one of the pinnacles of great burgundy (see domaine de la romanée-conti, vosne-romanée, and gevrey-chambertin for details of these). The vineyard lies between the scrubland at the top of the slope and the upper part of clos de vougeot, on a slope of 8 to 10% which drains particularly well through the oolitic limestone. The soil is more chalk than clay, covered by a fine silt, a combination which leads to the exceptional grace and power of Le Musigny, an iron fist in a velvet glove. Of the 10.7 ha/26 acres of Le Musigny which is split between Musigny, Petits Musigny, and La Combe d’Orveau, seven are owned by Domaine Comte de Vogüé. Other significant producers are Barthod, the Ch de Chambolle Musigny, Joseph Drouhin, Groffier, Mugnier, Jacques Prieur, and Roumier. Adjacent to Le Musigny lies the premier cru Les Amoureuses, whose reputation and price suggest that this vineyard is worthy of elevation to grand cru. If a little less powerful than Le Musigny itself, the wines of Les Amoureuses demonstrate a very similar style. The next most sought-after premier cru, and the largest, is Les Charmes, although climate change has had the effect of shunting quality up the hillside to Les Cras and Les Fuées. The other grand cru of Chambolle Musigny is Bonnes Mares, situated to the north of the village and overflowing into morey-st-denis. The wines show more sturdiness than silkiness, are less graceful than Le Musigny but have evident power and structure. Bonnes Mares is noted for its ageing capacity. Ownership is spread over more than 30 proprietors, the largest being again Domaine Comte de Vogüé, a producer who also makes a very small quantity of white wine in Musigny labelled Bourgogne Blanc. Other notable producers based in Chambolle-Musigny include Barthod, Roumier, and Mugnier.
Morey- Saint Denis
Important village in the Côte de Nuits district of Burgundy producing red wines from Pinot Noir grapes. Morey suffers, perhaps unfairly, in comparison with its neighbours chambolle-musigny and gevrey-chambertin because its wines are usually described as being lighter versions of Gevrey or firmer than Chambolle, according to which side of the village they are located. Indeed, in the past, the wines were often sold under those names. Geologically there is no need for Morey-St-Denis to feel inferior as the same stratum of limestone runs from the Combe de Lavaux in Gevrey through Morey to the Combe d’Antin in Chambolle. There are four grand cru vineyards, moving southwards from the border with Gevrey-Chambertin: Clos de la Roche (16.9 ha/42 acres), Clos St-Denis (6.6 ha), Clos des Lambrays (8.8 ha), Clos de Tart (7.5 ha), plus a small segment of Bonnes Mares overlapping from Chambolle. Although Morey chose to append St-Denis to its name in 1927, Clos de la Roche is probably the finest vineyard. The soil is rich in marl, giving greater depth, body, and ageing ability than most other vineyards. Clos St-Denis, sandwiched between Clos de la Roche and the village itself, may be the quintessential wine of Morey-St-Denis—a touch lighter than Clos de la Roche, supple and succulent, the more charming of the two early in life, with a trace of austerity, but the pinnacle of finesse. Excellent examples of both Clos de la Roche and Clos St-Denis have been made by Domaine Ponsot, Domaine Dujac, and various Ligniers. While Domaine Ponsot was one of the first to bottle their own wines in Burgundy, Domaine Dujac is the comparatively recent creation (in 1968) of Jacques Seysses, an inspirational grower whose example significantly influenced the generation taking over their family domaines in the 1980s. Clos des Lambrays, all but a monopoly, was promoted from premier cru to grand cru. Clos de Tart, singled out by Dr Lavalle in 1855 as the only tête de cuvée vineyard in Morey, has always been a monopole: founded by the Cistercian sisters of Notre Dame de Genlis in 1250, it remained in their hands until the French Revolution, when it was auctioned in one piece. In 1932, one of the Marey-Monge family sold it to the current owner, Mommessin. Successful premier cru vineyards in Morey-St-Denis include Les Ruchots, Clos de la Bussière (monopole of Domaine Georges Roumier), Les Millandes, Clos des Ormes, and Les Monts Luisants. Domaine Ponsot also produces a rare and curious white wine from the last, based on a plot of Aligoté planted in 1911.
Fixin
appellation abutting Gevrey-Chambertin in the Côte de Nuits district of Burgundy, producing red wines of a similar style to its neighbour, though currently of lesser fame. Fixin wines have a similar sturdiness to Gevrey but have less powerful fruit and fragrance. There are five premier cru vineyards: Les Arvelets and Les Hervelets (seemingly interchangeable; certainly wine grown in the former may be labelled the latter), Clos de la Perrière, Clos Napoléon, and Clos du Chapître. Dr Lavalle, writing in 1855, noted Le Chapître, Les Arvelets, and Clos Napoléon but he singled out Clos de la Perrière for special praise since at that time the Marquis de Montmort sold it at the same price as his Chambertin.
Marsannay
Northernmost appellation of the Côte de Nuits district of the côte d’or. It is unique in Burgundy for having appellation contrôlée status for red, white, and pink wines. The vineyards of Couchey and Chenove are included with those of Marsannay. Prior to 1987, the wines were sold as generic bourgogne followed by the specification Marsannay or Rosé de Marsannay. The latter style of wine is a speciality of the village pioneered in 1919 by Joseph Clair and taken up by the local co-operative. Leading producers are Audoin, Bouvier, Bruno Clair, Fournier, and Sylvain Pataille. The small white wine production has yet to show particular character. The red wines are attractive and fruity, if lighter than those of neighbouring fixin. There were no premier cru vineyards in 2014 but vineyards such as Clos du Roy and Les Longeroies may yet be elevated.
Jean- Marie Fourrier- Region of production:
Cote de Nuits
Jean- Marie Fourrier- Winery Location:
Gevery- Chambertin
Jean- Marie Fourrier- Year Established:
1930s
Jean- Marie Fourrier- Summary:
Jean-Marie Fourrier took over the family domaine from his father Jean-Claude in 1995 after working stages with Henri Jayer and Domaine Drouhin in Oregon. One of the key qualities of Fourrier wines is that they come from very old vines: any wine from vines less than 30 years old is sold to négociants—making all domaine-bottled wines essentially vieille vigne. Vines are replanted individually as they die using sélection massale. While the old vines of the domaine tend to already be quite low-yielding, they are also pruned severely and de-budded in the spring; however, no green harvest is done. Jean-Marie Fourrier has built the family domaine into one of the region’s most respected in foreign markets—with tremendous demand in the United States and extremely high prices on the secondary market—yet as the majority of the domaine’s wines are exported, he is little-known in France.
Jean- Marie Fourrier- Key Vineyard Holdings:
9 ha total
Griotte-Chambertin Grand Cru: 0.26 ha Pinot Noir, planted in 1928
Gevrey-Chambertin Clos Saint-Jacques Premier Cru: 0.89 ha Pinot Noir, planted in 1910
Gevrey-Chambertin La Combe aux Moines Premier Cru: 0.87 ha Pinot Noir, planted in 1928
Gevrey-Chambertin Les Champeaux Premier Cru: 0.21 ha Pinot Noir, planted in 1919
Gevrey-Chambertin Les Goulots Premier Cru: 0.34 ha Pinot Noir, planted in 1966
Gevrey-Chambertin Cherbaudes Premier Cru: 0.67 ha Pinot Noir, planted in 1940
Chambolle-Musigny Les Gruenchers Premier Cru: 0.29 ha Pinot Noir, planted in 1928
Vougeot Les Petits Vougeots Premier Cru: 0.34 ha Pinot Noir, planted in 1955
Gevrey-Chambertin Champerrier: 3.3 ha Pinot Noir, planted from 1928-1955
Jean- Marie Fourrier- Average Total Production:
Unknown
Jean- Marie Fourrier- Top Wines Produced:
Griotte-Chambertin Grand Cru
Gevrey-Chambertin Clos Saint-Jacques Premier Cru
Gevrey-Chambertin La Combe aux Moines Premier Cru
Gevrey-Chambertin Les Champeaux Premier Cru
Gevrey-Chambertin Les Goulots Premier Cru
Gevrey-Chambertin Cherbaudes Premier Cru
Chambolle-Musigny Les Gruenchers Premier Cru
Vougeot Les Petits Vougeots Premier Cru
Gevrey-Chambertin “Vieilles Vignes”: from the Champerrier climat
Jean- Marie Fourrier- Inaugural Vintage for Top Wines:
Unknown
Jean- Marie Fourrier- Brief Description of Style / Vinification Techniques:
At harvest, grapes are sorted in the vineyard and in the winery. Grapes are 100% de-stemmed but not crushed, and all parcels are fermented separately. The cool must starts fermentation slowly with native yeasts, and pigeage is conducted two to four times per day (there are no pump-overs). After 16-19 days on the skins, the wines are pressed to barrel (up to 20% new oak). Jean-Marie prefers to rack his wines only immediately prior to bottling, and he sometimes bottles from cask in order to preserve carbon dioxide in the wine and reduce the need for sulfur dioxide additions. The wines are bottled without fining or filtration and can frequently show some gas when young.
Jacques-Frédéric Mugnier- Region of production:
Côte de Nuits
Jacques-Frédéric Mugnier- Winery Location:
Chambolle- Musigny
Jacques-Frédéric Mugnier- Year Established:
1863
Jacques-Frédéric Mugnier- Summary:
Frédéric (Frédy) Mugnier is currently in charge of this outstanding domaine founded by his great-great-grandfather Frédéric Mugnier in 1863. Along with the vineyard holdings, the family business initially included a négociant business focused on liqueurs, but over time that was sold and the vineyards were leased out in fermage arrangements. In 1977 Jacques-Frédéric Mugnier decided to take back the family’s Chambolle-Musigny vineyards and bottle the wines himself, and in 1985 Frédy joined his father after a career as a petroleum engineer. In 2004 the fermage arrangement with Faiveley for the Clos de la Maréchale came to an end, resulting in the domaine more than tripling in size—from four to 14 hectares—thanks to the addition of this largest monopole in the Côte d’Or.
Today, the vineyards are plowed, and no chemical herbicides, fertilizers or insecticides are used—though Frédy prefers to use systemic fungicides rather than copper to fight mildew, feeling that copper harms the vines and soils more than fungicides. The older vines are trained to the guyot system with a slightly longer fruiting cane than is normal, as Frédy removes every other shoot early in the growing season so as to space the shoots and clusters well. A green harvest is performed if necessary to keep the crop load small. Frédy Mugnier is a very meticulous and precise winegrower, and the quality of his wines reflect his great attention to detail.
Jacques-Frédéric Mugnier- Key Vineyard Holdings:
14 ha total
Musigny Grand Cru: 1.14 ha Pinot Noir, planted in 1947, 1962 and 1997
Bonnes Mares Grand Cru: 0.36 ha Pinot Noir, planted in 1961, 1980 and 1988
Chambolle-Musigny Les Amoureuses Premier Cru: 0.53 ha Pinot Noir, planted in 1954, 1956 and 1966
Chambolle-Musigny Les Fuées Premier Cru: 0.71 ha Pinot Noir, planted in 1960
Nuits-Saint-Georges Clos de la Maréchale Premier Cru (monopole): 9.16 ha Pinot Noir, planted in 1964; 0.6 ha Chardonnay, grafted from Pinot Noir in 2004
Jacques-Frédéric Mugnier- Average Total Production:
5,000 cases
Jacques-Frédéric Mugnier- Top Wines Produced:
Musigny Grand Cru: until the 1989 vintage the 1947 vines were bottled separately as a “Vieilles Vignes” bottling; currently there is just a single Musigny bottling
Bonnes Mares Grand Cru
Chambolle-Musigny Les Amoureuses Premier Cru
Chambolle-Musigny Les Fuées Premier Cru
Nuits-Saint-Georges Clos de la Maréchale Premier Cru (white and red)
Nuits-Saint-Georges Clos des Fourches red: produced from young vines in the Clos de la Maréchale
Jacques-Frédéric Mugnier- Inaugural Vintages:
Nuits-Saint-Georges Clos de la Maréchale Premier Cru white in 2005
Jacques-Frédéric Mugnier- Brief Description of Style / Vinification Techniques:
The Mugnier wines are usually reserved in youth but capable of long aging, particularly the Musigny. Elegant and powerful, they never show over-ripeness or excessive oak. Grapes are 100% de-stemmed and vinified with native yeasts. The wines ferment on the skins for up to three weeks, but the frequency of pigeage has been reduced in recent years. The press wine is kept separate until bottling so as to more finely tune the final blend. Aging occurs in a maximum of 20% new oak (less than previously used), and the wines age for 18 months prior to bottling without fining or filtration.
G. Roumier- Region of production:
Cote d’ Or
G. Roumier- Winery Location:
Chambolle-Musigny
G. Roumier- Year Established:
1924
G. Roumier- Summary:
Since Christophe Roumier joined the family domaine in 1982, this domaine has become one of the absolute elite producers in Burgundy. It was founded in 1924 with the marriage of Georges Roumier to Geneviève Quanquin of Chambolle-Musigny, whose dowry included 12 hectares of premiers and grands crus. Over time the family added the Clos de la Bussière monopole, a small parcel of Corton-Charlemagne and an even smaller slice of Musigny Grand Cru. Today, the domaine boasts many old vines; in order to maintain a high average vine age Christophe prefers to replace individual missing vines rather than replant entire vineyard blocks. All vineyards are plowed, no herbicides are used, and insecticides and synthetic fertilizers are also avoided. Low yields are achieved through severe pruning and de-budding in spring. Like Mugnier, Christophe Roumier prefers to train his mature vines as single Guyot with a long cane, removing every other shoot early in the growing season to promote good spacing and ventilation of the vine canopy. This is a domaine of impeccable quality, and the worldwide demand for these wines means they are now very difficult to find.
G. Roumier- Key Vineyard Holdings:
11.84 ha
Bonnes Mares Grand Cru: 1.39 ha Pinot Noir, planted in 1967
Musigny Grand Cru: 0.1 ha Pinot Noir, planted in 1930
Charmes-Chambertin Grand Cru: 0.27 ha Pinot Noir, planted in 1972
Ruchottes-Chambertin Grand Cru: 0.54 ha Pinot Noir, planted in 1967
Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru: 0.2 ha Chardonnay, planted in 1968
Chambolle-Musigny Les Amoureuses Premier Cru: 0.4 ha Pinot Noir, planted in 1947
Chambolle-Musigny Les Cras Premier Cru: 1.76 ha Pinot Noir, planted in 1961
Morey-Saint-Denis Clos de la Bussière Premier Cru (monopole): 2.59 ha Pinot Noir, planted in 1977
G. Roumier- Average Total Production:
unknown
G. Roumier- Top Wines Produced:
Bonnes Mares Grand Cru
Musigny Grand Cru
Charmes-Chambertin Grand Cru
Ruchottes-Chambertin Grand Cru
Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru
Chambolle-Musigny Les Amoureuses Premier Cru
Chambolle-Musigny Les Cras Premier Cru
Morey-Saint-Denis Clos de la Bussière Premier Cru (monopole)
G. Roumier- Inaugural Vintages:
Domaine-bottling began in 1945.
G. Roumier- Brief Description of Style / Vinification Techniques:
The Roumier wines are clean and expressive when young but capable of great development over time. Grapes are sorted in the vineyard and at the winery, then partially de-stemmed depending on vine age and fruit condition. Fermentation begins slowly with native yeast, and pigeage begins once fermentation commences; grapes stay on the skins for about three weeks. After pressing, the press wine is kept separate from the free-run juice; it is later added back if the blend is harmonious. New oak is kept in check: 20% new for village-level wines, 25-35% for premier crus and 35-45% for grand crus. The wines spend 15-18 months in oak prior to being bottled without fining or filtration.
Méo-Camuzet- Region of production:
Côte d’Or
Méo-Camuzet- Winery Location:
Vosne-Romanée
Méo-Camuzet- Year Established:
1902
Méo-Camuzet- Summary:
Etienne Camuzet started buying vineyards in the early 20th century while serving in the French parliament as representative for the Côte d’Or. He obtained large holdings in Clos de Vougeot and was the last private owner of the Château before donating it to the Confrérie des Chevaliers du Tastevin. His daughter Maria Noirot died without heirs and deeded the estate to a distant relative and friend, Jean Méo, who put the estate in the hands of a number of métayers (including the now-famous Henri Jayer). Jean Méo’s son, Jean-Nicolas, took over management of the domaine in 1988 when Henri Jayer retired, though Jayer stayed on as a consultant. Jean-Nicolas considers the vineyards to be the foundation of quality for his wines and restricts yields by removing every other shoot early in the growing season to promote ventilation. No weed killers are used and vineyards are green-harvested if necessary. A négociant business was started under the name of Méo-Camuzet Frère et Soeurs In 1999.
Méo-Camuzet- Vineyard Holdings:
13.9 ha total
Richebourg Grand Cru: 0.34 ha Pinot Noir, planted in the 1950s
Echézeaux Grand Cru: 0.44 ha Pinot Noir, planted in the 1940s
Clos de Vougeot Grand Cru: 3.0 ha Pinot Noir, planted in the 1920s, 1960s and 1979
Corton Clos Rognet Grand Cru: 0.45 ha Pinot Noir, planted in the 1920s
Vosne-Romanée Cros Parantoux Premier Cru: 0.3 ha Pinot Noir, planted in the 1930s
Vosne-Romanée Aux Brûlées Premier Cru: 0.74 ha Pinot Noir, planted in 1930
Vosne-Romanée Les Chaumes Premier Cru: 2.0 ha Pinot Noir, planted in the 1950s and 1970s
Nuits-Saint-Georges Aux Boudots Premier Cru: 1.05 ha Pinot Noir, planted in the 1950s and 1960s
Nuits-Saint-Georges Aux Murgers Premier Cru: 0.75 ha Pinot Noir, planted in 1965 and 1972
Méo-Camuzet- Average Total Production:
Unknown
Méo-Camuzet- Top Wines Produced:
Richebourg Grand Cru
Echézeaux Grand Cru
Clos de Vougeot Grand Cru
Corton Clos Rognet Grand Cru
Vosne-Romanée Cros Parantoux Premier Cru
Vosne-Romanée Aux Brûlées Premier Cru
Vosne-Romanée Les Chaumes Premier Cru
Nuits-Saint-Georges Aux Boudots Premier Cru
Nuits-Saint-Georges Aux Murgers Premier Cru
Méo-Camuzet- Inaugural Vintage for Top Wines:
domaine-bottling began in 1985
Méo-Camuzet- Brief Description of Style / Vinification Techniques:
Méo-Camuzet wines are made following Henri Jayer’s methods, paying careful attention to grape health, completely de-stemming the fruit, and generous new oak usage. The grapes are hand-sorted prior to de-stemming and allowed to begin fermentation slowly without adding cultured yeast. The wines ferment on the skins for up to 18 days, with more frequent pigeage as fermentation ends. The press wine and the free-run wine are blended before aging in oak, with 50% new oak for the communal wines, 60-70% for premier crus, and 100% for grand crus. Wines are aged 15-18 months prior to bottling with no fining or filtering.
Domaine Ponsot- Region of production:
Côte d’Or
Domaine Ponsot- Winery Location:
Morey-Saint-Denis
Domaine Ponsot- Year Established:
1872
Domaine Ponsot- Summary:
Domaine Ponsot was founded in 1872 by William Ponsot with a small holding in Clos de la Roche and Clos des Monts Luisants. The domaine has grown over the years through acquisitions, marriage and joint ventures. Laurent Ponsot—the current generation in charge—has continued to expand the holdings, adding Corton-Charlemagne, Corton, and Corton-Bressandes in 2009, and a small piece of Montrachet in 2010. The domaine now boasts an enviable twelve grands crus, and production that is inverse of Burgundy as a whole, with 80% of the domaine’s production comprised of grand cru wines and only 8% regional and village wine. Their holdings include some exceptionally old vineyards, and Hippolyte Ponsot (Laurent’s grandfather) was concerned about preserving the genetic heritage of his vineyards from an early date. He painstakingly marked top-performing old vines and created a 2,000-vine “nursery” in Clos de la Roche of the best selections. It was from this block of vines that the so-called “Dijon clones” of Pinot Noir were selected by Jean-Marie Ponsot and researchers at the University of Dijon. Domaine Ponsot also produces a rarity: a premier cru white that is 100% Aligoté from very old vines planted in 1911 in Monts Luisants. In 2005 Laurent Ponsot removed the Pinot Gouges and Chardonnay that his father and grandfather had planted, and re-planted Aligoté, bottling only the old vines from 2005 forward. This is an exceptional, but idiosyncratic, domaine.
Domaine Ponsot- Vineyard Holdings:
Montrachet Grand Cru
Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru
Clos de la Roche Grand Cru: 3.4 ha Pinot Noir, planted in 1947
Clos Saint-Denis Grand Cru: 0.7 ha Pinot Noir, planted in 1905
Chambertin Grand Cru: 0.2 ha Pinot Noir, planted in 1955
Charmes-Chambertin Grand Cru: 0.3 ha Pinot Noir, planted in 1972
Griotte-Chambertin Grand Cru: 0.9 ha Pinot Noir, planted in 1990
Chapelle-Chambertin Grand Cru: 0.7 ha Pinot Noir, planted in 1990
Morey-Saint-Denis Clos des Monts Luisants Premier Cru: 0.9 ha Aligoté, mostly planted in 1911
Domaine Ponsot- Average Total Production:
2,200 cases
Domaine Ponsot- Top Wines Produced:
Montrachet Grand Cru
Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru
Clos de la Roche “Cuvée Vieilles Vignes” Grand Cru
Clos Saint-Denis “Cuvée Très Vieilles Vignes” Grand Cru
Chambertin Grand Cru
Charmes-Chambertin “Cuvée des Merles” Grand Cru
Griotte-Chambertin Grand Cru
Chapelle-Chambertin Grand Cru
Morey-Saint-Denis Clos des Monts Luisants Premier Cru Blanc
Domaine Ponsot- Inaugural Vintages:
Clos de la Roche Grand Cru (1934), Clos Saint-Denis Grand Cru (1982), Chambertin Grand Cru (1969), Chapelle-Chambertin Grand Cru (1970), Griotte-Chambertin Grand Cru (1982), Clos de Vougeot Grand Cru (1999), Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru, Corton Grand Cru, Corton-Bressandes Grand Cru ( all 2009), Montrachet Grand Cru (2010)
Domaine Ponsot- Brief Description of Style / Vinification Techniques:
Domaine Ponsot generally harvests very low-yielding and very ripe fruit from their old vineyards. They use no new oak, purchasing used barrels from white wine producers, and use sulfur very sparingly, if at all. The grapes are harvested into small baskets to keep the fruit intact, and red grapes are generally de-stemmed (although this varies by vintage). The wines ferment in wooden tanks and are allowed to reach a fairly high temperature, from 35-38° Celsius. There is no set regimen for the amount of pigeage, or remontage, or even the amount of time on skins—the qualities of the harvest dictate these decisions. The wines are pressed with a wooden basket press, and the four-level winery allows gravity-flow wine movements. Wines are bottled with no fining or filtering after 18-24 months in barrel and generally receive only a minimal amount of sulfur at bottling.
Clos de Tart- Region of production:
Morey-Saint-Denis
Clos de Tart- Winery Location:
Morey-Saint-Denis
Clos de Tart- Year Established:
1141
Clos de Tart- Summary:
The sisters of Notre Dame de Tart purchased the vineyard that has become known as Clos de Tart in 1141. The Marey-Monge family purchased the ecclesiastical land at public auction in 1791; the Mommesin family—its current owners—purchased it in 1932. In 1997 the Mommesin family sold their négociant business to Boisset but retained the Clos de Tart property and its winemaking buildings, now known as Domaine du Clos de Tart. Clos de Tart is the largest monopole grand cru vineyard in the Côte d’Or, and it is one of the few vineyards in the Côte de Nuits in which rows are planted north-south (in order to prevent erosion). Replanting is done by sélection massale and the domaine’s average vine age is sixty years. Sylvain Pitiot has run the domaine since 1995, after a career as a cartographer and a stint at the Hospices de Beaune winery.
Clos de Tart- Vineyard Holdings:
Clos de Tart Grand Cru (monopole): 7.53 ha Pinot Noir, 60-year-old vines
Clos de Tart- Average Total Production:
1,650 cases
Clos de Tart- Top Wines Produced:
Clos de Tart Grand Cru (monopole)
Morey-Saint-Denis “La Forge de Tart” Premier Cru: produced in certain vintages from vines under 25 years of age in Clos de Tart
Clos de Tart- Inaugural Vintages:
Unknown
Clos de Tart- Brief Description of Style / Vinification Techniques:
Sylvain Pitiot favors harvesting very late in order to have fully ripe fruit. The grapes are sorted in the vineyard and again on a sorting table at the winery. The decision to de-stem depends on the vintage, with up to 50% whole clusters retained in warmer vintages (e.g. 2009). The wines ferment without inoculation in stainless steel and spend approximately three weeks on skins. After pressing, the wines age in 100% new oak for 18 months prior to bottling without fining or filtration.
The premier Cru vineyard in Chevrey- Chambertin called Cazetiers is pronounced how?
Cast- ee- ay
How many lieut deits are in Morey- St- Denis?
At least 26. Most of them are unknown so they aren’t mentioned on the label. However some that might be known are Bussieres, Sionnieres, and En la Rue de Vergy
What are the four grand crus of Morey- St- Denis?
Clos de Tart, Clos de Lambrays, Clos-St- Denis, Clos de la Roche and Les Bonnes Mares (which is shared with Chambolle- Musigny)
In what year did Clos de Lambrays get promoted from Premier Cru to Grand Cru?
1981
What are the two Grand Crus of Chambolle- Musigny?
Bonnes Mares and Musigny
Which Grand Cru in Chambolle was the only Tete de Cuvee identified in Dr. Lavelle’s 1855 classification?
Musigny, he compared it to La Tache, La Romanee and La Romanee- Conti
What is the village of Vougeot named after?
The Vouge, a small river whose source is at the foot of the hill behind the village just below the vines of the Chambolle Premier Cru of Les Amoureuses
What is the smallest appellation in France?
La Romanee
Domaine de la Vougeraie was formed in what year?
1998, it was formed when the company of Jean Claude Boisset, decided to combine the domaines of Claudine Deschamps, Pierre Ponnelle, Louis Voilland and L’Heritier- Guyot into one “super Domaine”. It has two white grand Crus and five red
Domaine de la Romanee Conti sources its Corton fruit from what producer who no longer exists?
Prince de Merode whose last vintage was 2007
Les Perrieres is a common premier Cru name through Burgundy.
But it is more common in white wine appellations
1879 is important to Puligny, why?
It’s the year it was rechristened Puligny- Montrachet.
St- Romain
- One of the last villages to receive appellation status (1947)
- Is where the barrelmaker Francois Freres is stationed
- 60% white wine
- Whites are seen as great value for money and haven’t missed a beat since 2006
Puligny- Montrachet is named after…
Puligagnius, or a house built on or by the water. This is still true, it also has a very high water table.
Is it possible to produce red and white Mersault?
Yes, but most of it is labelled as Volnay or other appellations
Vergelesses and Ill de Vergelesses cab be both premier Cru red and white?
True
Which is the only town in the Cote de Beaune where lyre training is allowed?
Auxey
Latricieres- Chambertin
Latricières-Chambertin is a 7.4 hectare parcel of vines found south of Chambertin on shallow stony soil. It is therefore very easy to reach the limestone rock layer beneath. The name ‘Latricières’ comes from the latin latericium ‘slope’ which alludes to the slope of the land favourable to vine-growing. Latricières-Chambertin Grand Cru has characteristics similar to that of Chambertin but it is a lighter style of wine. The history of the cru suggests it began to be cultivated in 1508, and its name means “the small miracle”.