Cote De Nuits

Question 1

Where is the Côte de Nuits located?

Answer 1

Northern half of the Côte d’Or in Burgundy, between Dijon and Corgoloin.

Question 2

What is the primary grape of Côte de Nuits?

Answer 2

Pinot Noir (over 90% of production); very limited Chardonnay.

Question 3

Name the 6 village-level AOCs of the Côte de Nuits.

Answer 3

Marsannay, Fixin, Gevrey-Chambertin, Morey-Saint-Denis, Chambolle-Musigny, Vougeot, Vosne-Romanée, Nuits-Saint-Georges.

Question 4

What is unique about Marsannay AOC?

Answer 4

Only village in Côte d’Or permitted to produce red, white, and rosé wines under the village AOC.

Question 5

Which village contains the largest Grand Cru vineyard in Côte de Nuits?

Answer 5

Vougeot – home to Clos de Vougeot, a 50+ ha Grand Cru.

Question 6

Name 5 Grand Cru vineyards of Gevrey-Chambertin.

Answer 6

Chambertin, Chambertin-Clos de Bèze, Charmes-Chambertin, Mazis-Chambertin, Ruchottes-Chambertin.

There are 9 in total.

Question 7

What Grand Crus are found in Vosne-Romanée?

Answer 7

Romanée-Conti, La Romanée, Richebourg, La Tâche, Romanée-Saint-Vivant, La Grande Rue.

All are monopoles except Romanée-Saint-Vivant and Richebourg.

Question 8

Which Grand Crus are shared between Morey-Saint-Denis and Chambolle-Musigny?

Answer 8

Bonnes-Mares (split between the two).

Question 9

What is the only Grand Cru vineyard in Chambolle-Musigny?

Answer 9

Musigny.

Question 10

What style is Chambolle-Musigny known for?

Answer 10

Feminine, silky, perfumed Pinot Noir with elegance and finesse.

Question 11

Describe the style of Gevrey-Chambertin.

Answer 11

Powerful, structured, earthy, and age-worthy Pinot Noir.

Question 12

What are key characteristics of Vosne-Romanée wines?

Answer 12

Exotic spice, silky texture, intensity without heaviness—among the most celebrated expressions of Pinot Noir.

Question 13

What is the only Grand Cru in Nuits-Saint-Georges?

Answer 13

Trick question—there are no Grand Crus in Nuits-Saint-Georges.

Question 14

Name two top Premier Crus in Chambolle-Musigny.

Answer 14

Les Amoureuses, Les Charmes.

Question 15

Which Grand Cru is a monopole of Domaine de la Romanée-Conti (DRC)?

Answer 15

Romanée-Conti.

Question 16

Name some top producers in the Côte de Nuits.

Answer 16

Domaine de la Romanée-Conti, Armand Rousseau, Georges Roumier, Domaine Leroy, Comte Liger-Belair, Domaine Dujac, Domaine Mugnier.

More accessible: Hudelot-Noëllat, Domaine Taupenot-Merme, Domaine Bruno Clair.

Question 17

Which vintages are drinking well now from the Côte de Nuits?

Answer 17

2010, 2013, 2014, 2017, and 2020 (early stages); 2008 and 2012 in peak form.

Question 18

What is the main soil type of Côte de Nuits vineyards?

Answer 18

Jurassic limestone with marl and clay; variations by slope and aspect.

Question 19

What is the main climatic concern in the Côte de Nuits?

Answer 19

Spring frost, hail, and increasingly, drought due to climate change.

Question 20

What does ‘Monopole’ mean in Burgundy?

Answer 20

A vineyard (or portion) owned entirely by one producer.

Question 21

What geological feature distinguishes Clos de Bèze from Chambertin?

Answer 21

Clos de Bèze often has more marl and slightly richer topsoil, contributing to softer tannins and earlier approachability compared to Chambertin’s firmer, limestone-dominant structure.

Question 22

Which Premier Cru in Vosne-Romanée is often considered Grand Cru in quality and borders Romanée-Conti?

Answer 22

Cros Parantoux – made famous by Henri Jayer.

Question 23

Which Grand Cru is entirely surrounded by Premier Cru vineyards in Chambolle-Musigny?

Answer 23

Musigny

Question 24

What vineyard in Morey-Saint-Denis was elevated from Premier Cru to Grand Cru in 1989?

Answer 24

Clos de la Roche

Question 25

What makes Les Amoureuses in Chambolle-Musigny especially valuable among Premier Crus?

Answer 25

Its location directly adjacent to Musigny, exceptional finesse and perfume, and scarcity.

Question 26

Which Côte de Nuits village has the greatest number of Grand Crus?

Answer 26

Gevrey-Chambertin (9 Grand Crus)

Question 27

Name the Grand Cru vineyard in Vosne-Romanée that is entirely enclosed by walls (clos).

Answer 27

La Romanée

Question 28

What is the stylistic difference between Bonnes-Mares from Chambolle vs. Morey-Saint-Denis?

Answer 28

Chambolle's portion tends to be more elegant and floral; Morey's is firmer and more structured due to soil differences.

Question 29

What soil type dominates the upper slopes of the Côte de Nuits?

Answer 29

Oolitic limestone and white marl.

Question 30

Which Grand Cru is the only one in Côte de Nuits that is legally permitted to produce white wine?

Answer 30

Musigny (Musigny Blanc, though rare)

Question 31

What defines the style of Clos de Tart?

Answer 31

Powerful, age-worthy Pinot Noir with dense structure and firm tannins; monopole Grand Cru in Morey-Saint-Denis.

Question 32

Which producer is best known for bottling multiple parcels within Clos de Vougeot to show intra-cru variation?

Answer 32

Château de la Tour

Question 33

What two Grand Crus are considered the 'bookends' of the Grand Cru slope in Gevrey-Chambertin?

Answer 33

Mazoyères-Chambertin (south) and Ruchottes-Chambertin (north)

Question 34

What is the significance of the Combe de Lavaux in Gevrey-Chambertin?

Answer 34

It brings cooler air, contributing to finesse and freshness in vineyards.

Question 35

Name three Premier Cru vineyards of Nuits-Saint-Georges with Grand Cru potential.

Answer 35

* Les Saint-Georges (potential Grand Cru) * Les Vaucrains * Les Cailles

Question 36

What type of vine training is traditional in Côte de Nuits?

Answer 36

Guyot (simple or double), with dense planting and low yields.

Question 37

What is the smallest Grand Cru in Burgundy, and where is it located?

Answer 37

La Romanée – 0.845 ha in Vosne-Romanée.

Question 38

What is a 'climat' in Burgundy?

Answer 38

A precisely delineated vineyard parcel with distinct terroir, recognized by INAO.

Question 39

Which Grand Cru in Morey-Saint-Denis is known for both elegance and power, and is closest in style to Chambolle-Musigny?

Answer 39

Clos Saint-Denis

Question 40

How does winemaking style affect interpretation of Côte de Nuits terroir?

Answer 40

Minimal intervention enhances site expression, while heavy oak or extraction can obscure terroir distinctions.