Cote de Nuits Flashcards
What is it about Marsannay’s microclimate and soils that could be attributed to its lack of premier crus?
Soils: classic Burgundian clay-limestone, but with a washout of silt, gravel, and clays that have run off the Ouche River that flows into Dijon
Climate: its too cold! A massive combe opens up right over Marsannay, spilling cold air
Marsannay’s post-WW1 fame was built on pinot noir rose: name 3 producers bottling rose in Marsannay today?
Regis Bouvier
Bruno Clair
Explain as you might to a guest: Why are wines from Marsannay and Fixin worth paying attention to? What’s the difference between the two and which should I buy?
As Burgundy has priced itself out of the everyday, wines from Marsannay or Fixin are one way to scratch that Burgundy itch without spending a fortune. A good wine will still run $30 to $50 retail. Between new talent and higher focus on quality, there is some wonderful options to be enjoyed.
Explain as you might to a guest: What’s the difference between Marsannay and Fixin?
Marsannay can be counted on for wines expressive of red berries accompanied by floral and stony notes. Rarely substantial but often quite pithy and satisfying. They may not be profound or deep and complex, but they are juicy and satisfying for the every day.
Fixin wines are typically a bit more wild and savory without a layer of fruit flesh to soften the wine, leaving them a bit lean and bony at times with just acid and tannin exposed. They may not lend as much immediate pleasure but they do more likely have the stuffing to age.
What are the 9 grand crus of Gevrey-Chambertin?
- Chambertin
- Clos de Beze
- Charmes-Chambertin
- Mazoyeres-Chambertin
- Chapelle-Chambertin
- Griotte-Chambertin
- Latricieres-Chambertin
- Mazis-Chambertin
- Ruchottes-Chambertin
The Combe Lavaux has a direct influence on which village and vineyards?
Gevrey-Chambertin
What 3 overperforming premier crus lie in the mouth of the Combe Lavaux? What commune are these within?
Gevrey-Chambertin
- Clos St-Jacques
- Lavaux St-Jacques
- Combe de Laval
Where is the Combe Grisard positioned and what ‘would-be Grand cru’ premier cru vineyard lies in its wake? What are this vineyard’s supposed shortcomings?
Between Morey-St-Denis and Gevrey-Chambertin
Aux Combottes: its cooler than the Grand Crus it lies alongside and is exposed to more wind; heavier soils lie here with poorer drainage. Does well in warm, dry years. Lignier and Dujac are proponents of this vineyard.
Describe ‘classical’ Gevrey-Chambertin?
Darker in color, even a bit more purple, with flavors veering down the dark fruit spectrum with deep savory flavors and spice. The wines can often have a gaminess. Gevrey’s structure is a defining characteristic: the wines are dense, tight and tannic. More concentration, good acidity, and power.
What are Morey-St-Denis’ 5 Grand Crus?
Clos St-Denis Clos de la Roche Clos de Tart Clos de Lambrays Bonnes Mares
Describe ‘classical’ Morey-St-Denis?
Situated between Chambolle and Gevrey in location as well as style - elegant, but not so much as Chambolle. Structured, but not quite so like Gevrey.
What are Chambolle Musigny’s two Grand Crus? What is the top premier cru and name 4 other strong premier crus.
- Bonnes Mares
- Musigny
Les Amoureuses
Other super seconds: Les Fuees, Les Gruenchers, Les Charmes, La Combe d’Orveau
What Combe influences Chambolle-Musigny?
Combe de Chambolle-Musigny
Describe the classic taste of Chambolle-Musigny?
Considered to be the epitome of light, ethereal pinot noir. Fredy Mugnier shows the extreme side of its lightness - with wines that barely look like more than a dark rose. Roumier is on the opposite end with darker, powerful, tannic wines that still show Chambolle suppleness.
Explain the historical significance of Clos de Vougeot?
Founded in 1100 by Cistercian monks.
Explain the size and ownership qualms of Clos de Vougeot.
The vineyard is around 50ha, or 123 acres with 80 different owners. It is the largest Grand Cru in the Cote de Nuits. The vineyard reaches from high up the slope all the way down to touch the highway with dramatic changes across the vineyard - from the privileged aspect to the mud by the road. The vineyard literally occupies more than 80% of Vougeot’s land as a commune.
Name Vosne-Romanee’s Grand Crus, including those in Flagey-Echezeaux.
La Tache Richebourg Romanee-Conti Romanee-St-Vivant La Romanee Echezeaux Grand Echezeaux La Grande Rue
Name 6 of Vosne-Romanee’s all star premier crus.
- Malconsorts
- Gaudichots
- Cros Parantoux
- Suchots
- Beaux Monts
- Petit Monts
What is the name of the combe above Vosne-Romanee ?
Combe de Concoeur
How many premier crus does Nuits-St-Georges have?
27
Explain Nuits-St-Georges’ two distinct styles of wine.
There’s the north end bordering Vosne-Romanee: limestone and marl underneath a surface of smaller pebbles. The wines possess clear shades of Vosne. Boudots and Chaignots are premier crus to look for.
South of the village: Vaucrains, Les Saint-George, where NSG borders on Premaux shows a heavier, craggier topography with wines that correspond in style
What 5 communes have the right to label their wines under Cote de Nuits-Villages AOP? Which of these are allowed to use its own name on the label?
Fixin - the only commune that retains the right to use its own name on the label Brochon Corgoloin Comblanchien Premaux-Prissey
When and why was pinot noir first planted in Marsannay?
Gamay dominated Marsannay until the early 1900s when Joseph Clair of the former Clair-Dau estate planted pinot noir with intent to create a rose. Roses were the rage at the time, but none came from Burgundy.
What villages are authorized to bottle as Marsannay AOP?
Marsannay-la-Cote
Chenove
Couchey
What village separates Fixin from Gevrey-Chambertin?
Brochon
Where is Domaine de la Cras located and why is this property unique?
Plombieres-les-Dijon. Previously owned by Jean Dubois, the city of Dijon purchased this 160ha property in 2013 and offered it to an aspiring winemaker with no family vineyards of their own under the condition that the property be farmed organically and that it be open to educational visits. Marc Soyard was chosen - he pays a yearly ‘rent’ of 2000 bottles a year to the city. The official appellation is Bourgogne, but Marc Soyard is the sole producer allowed to use the Coteaux de Dijon appellation.
Where is the Bourgogne Montrecul designation and what styles of wine does this cover?
Montrecul is a lieux-dit of Dijon. White, Rose, and Red can all be made here. Regis Bouvier of Marsannay is known for making a bottling of this lieux-dit. Montrecul means ‘steep slope’ - the hill descends at a grade of 13% into the city.
Who is credited with the introduction of Marsannay rose in the 1920s?
Joseph Clair, of Domaine Clair-Dau
Name 3 important producers of Marsannay.
Bruno Clair Regis Bouvier Sylvain Pataille Oliver Guyot Jean Fournier Marc Brocot Bart Collotte Domaine de la Croix-Saint-Germain ... among others
What communes are authorized to use the Fixin designation?
Fixey
Fixin
Explain the origins of Clos Napoleon and how it came to be.
Claude Noisot, a local aristocrat, fought alongside Napoleon and even accompanied him to Elba. Upon return, he renamed one of his vineyards Clos Napoleon and installed a small museum. Now a monopole of Pierre Gelin.
What are the 8 premier crus of FIxin? Bonus points for naming all of them. Credit for naming the ones that matter.
Les Hervelets/Les Arvelets (can be labelled as Hervelets but not vice versa)
Clos de la Perriere
Clos du Chapitre
Clos Napoleon
The rest…..
Les Meix-Bas (labelled as Les Hervelets in practice)
Queue de Hareng
En Suchot
Les Hervelets is a premier cru in what commune? What two premier crus will almost always use the Les Hervelets label?
Fixin
Les Meix-Bas & Les Arvelets
Clos de la Perriere is a monopole in what commune, belonging to what producer? What two premier crus are incorporated within it?
Fixin - monopole of Phillipe Joliet
The premier cru incorporates En Suchot and Queue de Hareng
Clos-du-Chapitre and Clos Napoleon are premier cru monopoles in what commune? Who do they belong to?
Fixin
Clos Napoleon: Pierre Gelin
Clos du Chapitre: farmed by Gelin until 1984; now owned by Guy Dufouleur
Why might it be said that Gevrey-Chambertin has ‘eight or nine’ grand crus?
Mazoyeres-Chambertin may be labelled as Charmes-Chambertin, but not vice versa
Which of Gevrey’s grand crus lie above the Route des Grands Crus? Which of the Grand Crus lie below it?
Above: Mazis, Ruchottes, Chambertin, Clos de Beze, Latricieres
Below: Charmes/Mazoyeres, Chapelle, Griotte
Of the Cote de Nuits villages, which are allowed to produce white wine?
Morey-Saint-Denis Vougeout Nuits Saints Georges Marsannay Fixin
Of the Cote de Nuits villages, which are only allowed to produce red wines?
Gevrey-Chambertin
Chambolle-Musigny
Vosne-Romanee
Name all of the Cote de Nuits village AOPs from North to South.
Marsannay Fixin Gevrey-Chambertin Morey-Saint-Denis Chambolle-Musigny Vougeot Vosne-Romanee Nuits-Saint-Georges
Name all of the Cote de Nuits village AOPs from south to north?
Nuits-Saint-Georges Vosne-Romanee Vougeot Chambolle-Musigny Morey-Saint-Denis Gevrey-Chambertin Fixin Marsannay
Who owns the largest parcel of Chambertin grand cru?
Armand Rousseau
Who owns the largest parcel of Clos de Beze? Who are the next two largest landholders?
Pierre Damoy hold 34% of the vineyard, aka 5.36ha
Armand Rousseau and Drouhin-Larose are the next two largest landholders here.
Wines from Mazoyeres may be labelled as Charmes-Chambertin, but not vice versa. This is not an option that many take. Name 3 producers who do continue to label as Mazoyeres-Chambertin?
- Camus
- Perrot-Minot
- Taupenot-Merme
What are the only 2 grand crus in the Cote de Nuits to reach down to the Route des Grand Crus?
Clos de Vougeot
Charmes-Chambertin/Mazoyeres-Chambertin
Which of Gevrey’s grand crus is the smallest? Who are the major landholders in this grand cru?
Griottes-Chambertin at 2.73ha
Ponsot/Domaine des Chezeaux (.89ha)
Rene Leclerc/Domaine des Chezeaux (.75ha)
Joseph Drouhin (.53ha)
Who are the top proprietors of Ruchottes-Chambertin?
Armand Rousseau (1.06ha)
Dr. Georges Mugneret (.64ha)
Christophe Roumier (.51ha)
All 3 owe their acquisitions to the split up of the Thomas-Bassot estate; JCB purchased in 1976 and then put on the market
Why isn’t Clos St-Jacques a grand cru?
When it came to be decided what was and wasn’t a grand cru in the 1930s, it was decided that only parcels contiguous with Chambertin and Chambertin Clos de Beze would be considered.
Who are the 5 owners of Clos St-Jacques?
Armand Rousseau Sylvie Esmonin Bruno Clair Louis Jadot Domaine Fourrier
Which commune owns the larger portion of Bonnes Mares?
Chambolle-Musigny
Why has Morey-Saint-Denis failed to achieve its own solid reputation?
Historically, growers passed off their wines as Gevrey-Chambertin. In addition, Gamay was still dominant into the 19th century- Lavalle cited that pinot noir was only solely grown “where the plums grow”. In 1855, only 70ha out of 160 were planted to Pinot Noir.
Writers have tended to dismiss Morey, passing it off as a lesser in-between Gevrey and Chambolle.
What vineyard seperates Latricieres-Chambertin from Clos de la Roche?
Les Combottes
Clos de la Bussiere is a monopole of what producer in what commune?
Morey-St-Denis
Roumier
Name 5 principal proprietors of Clos de la Roche?
Ponsot Dujac Armand Rousseau Georges Lignier Hubert Lignier Leroy Lignier-Michelot ... and more
Who is the present owner of Domaine des Lambrays? When was it acquired?
Bonus: who owns the only small chunk not belonging to the Domaine?
Bernard Arnault; LVMH - acquired in early 2014. This is the luxury conglomerate’s first foray into Burgundy.
Jean Taupenot-Merme owns 420sq meters of the 8.84ha
What is unique about plantings in Clos de Tart?
Vines are planted north-south rather than up and down the rows. This is a neat compromise between the need to protect from erosion and the requisite of efficient drainage - the vineyard is very stony here.
Who owned Clos de Tart from 1932 until 2017? Who currently owns Clos de Tart?
Mommesin
Clos de Tart is currently owned by the Artemis Group aka Francois Pinault, who also owns Chateau Latour.
Who currently cares for and makes wine from the property formerly owned by Jacky-Truchot Martin?
David Duband
What river and what combe divide Chambolle into two?
River Grone
Combe de Chamboeuf
What are some of the defining characteristics of Chambolle’s soil?
The terroir of Chambolle is marked by a high percentage of active limestone and a lack of clay. There is also less magnesium in the soil.
Name Chambolle’s Grand Crus.
Bonnes Mares
Musigny
How big is Bonnes Mares? How much of it lies in Money-St-Denis?
Bonnes Mares is 15.06ha in total - 1.52 of it lies in Morey-St-Denis
How many premier crus are in Chambolle?
24
Name as many premier crus as you can for Chambolle?
Les Amoureuses Les Baudes Aux Beaux Bruns Les Borniques Les Carrieres Les Chabiots Les Chatelots La Combe d'Orveau Aux/Les Combottes Les Cras Aux Echanges Les Feuselottes Les Fuees Les Grands Murs Derriere la Grange Les Groseilles Les Grenchers Les Hauts-Doix Les Lavrottes Les Noirots Les Plantes Les Sentiers Les Veroilles
What are the only two grand crus to produce white wine?
Corton
Le Musigny
How big is the Clos de Vougeot? Respectively, about how many hectares are premier cru and village wine?
Clos de Vougeot: 50.59ha
Premier cru: 11.68ha
Village: 4.83ha
What are Vougeot’s Grand crus and premier crus?
Clos de Vougeot - Grand Cru
Premier Crus: Les Cras, La Vigne Blanche (Le Clos Blanc), Clos de la Perriere, Les Petits Vougeots
What are the only two white Vougeot’s regularly seen in the market? If you were selling them, to what other appellation might you compare them to?
Domaine de la Vougeraie, successors to L’Heritier Guyot
Domaine Bertagna
*could be recommended as an alternative to Meursault
How and why was the Cistercian order formed? When did this happen and where did they settle?
At the beginning of the twelfth century, the Benedictine Abbey of Cluny was at the center of the western world. It was the wealthiest and most powerful Christian settlement.
The Cistercian order was born from a desire to return back to the simple life, free from the relaxation of strict monastic virtues that had come with Benedictine wealth. In 1098, a group of about 20 monks left and founded a new monastery in a clearing among forest and marsh. Cistel is the word for ‘reed’; the name evolved to the Latin cistercium. The new abbey was named Citeaux.
