L3 - Burgundy Chapter 15 Flashcards
What type of climate is Burgundy?
There are a range of climates:
-from cool continental in the north (in Chablis)
-to moderate continental further south
What are the climatic risks that exist in Burgundy?
-Rain disrupts flowering in early summer and harvest later in the year
-Pinot Noir can also be susceptible to grey rot in the rainy season
-Spring frosts in the Chablis region are also a huge risk –appearing as late as May
-Localized hailstorms in the summer
How does a vineyard’s location determine quality level
in Burgundy?
-Village level wines are usually located on flat sites or the bottom of slopes
-Premier or Grand cru level are usually found mid-slope which is less susceptible to frost than the flat lands. Slopes favorable aspect & well-drained soil. – More flavor intensity, complexity & length of finish than Bourgogne AOC
-Highest quality vineyards = south or eat facing exposure (protecting from westerly winds).
Specifically, south and south-east facing slopes benefit from extra sunlight and are capable of producing concentrated and complex wines capable of aging.
–Most famous appellations:
(1) Gevrey-Chambertin AOC &
(2) Nuits-Saint-Georges AOC in Côte de Nuits
(3) Beaune AOC and
(4) Pommard AOC in Côte de Beaune
How and why is the soil varied in Burgundy?
Burgundy sits on small geological fault lines which combined with erosion means subtle changes in the area which are linked to changes in the wine. Soils on hillsides tend to be shallower with better drainage, whereas the soil on flat lands is deeper and more fertile.
What are the primary grape varieties grown in Burgundy?
-Pinot Noir
-Chardonnay
-Aligote
-Gamay
What are the characteristics of Burgundy Pinot Noir?
– Typically light to medium bodied wines
– Low tannins
– High acidity
– Fresh red-fruit flavors
– Best consumed young & fresh
– They lack the flavour intensity to age
Except the grand and premier crus which:
Produces most complex & intense wines
– Aspect = commonly on south or south-east facing slopes, which gives extra sunlight/warmth
– Flavors = concentrated red fruit (strawberry/cherry), subtle oak aromas (clove/smoke) & pronounced tertiary flavors (forest floor, earth, game, mushroom) from aging.
– Grand Crus are consider the best individual vineyards w/ most concentration /complexity/ability to age (very $$$$$)
–Vineyard names may appear on Premier Cru & do appear on Grand Cru
What are the general characteristics of the Pinot Noir grape?
-A thin-skinned black grape varietal.
-Does best in a cool to moderate climate.
-High acidity
-Low to medium tannins
-Red fruit flavors (strawberry, raspberry, red cherry) ranging from fresh to cooked depending on ripeness
-When grown in a climate that is too warm it can lose its fresh flavors and taste “cooked”.
-Grape is prone to rot and disease.
-In poor vintages it is difficult to produce even small amounts of quality Pinot Noir.
What is the typical wine making process for Pinot Noirs?
Single varietal or blended?
Oaked or unoaked?
-Typically a single varietal wine (with the exception of being blended in sparkling wines)
-Often matured in oak (typically older barrels which impart less flavor as opposed to new barrels which can overwhelm flavors)
-The best Pinot Noirs have subtle secondary oak flavors (smoke, cloves) balanced by fruit flavors
-Intended to be consumed young
-However, good or outstanding can be aged to develop tertiary flavors (forest floor, earth, game, mushroom) after several years in the bottle
What is the name of the region of the most celebrated vineyards in Burgundy?
Côte d’ Or (Golden Coast) -
Divided into 2 halves:
– Côte de Nuits (in the north)
– Côte d’ Beaune (in the south)
What are the typical characteristics of Burgundy Chardonnay?
Depends on region:
-Bourgogne AOC (apple/lemon and high acid)
-Chablis (high acid, apple, lemon, wet stones)
-Cote D’Or (Ripe-fruit flavors (peach, melon), outstanding wines can develop tertiary flavors in bottle of hazlenut and mushroom)
-Macon AOC (south Burgundy) -fruity, unoaked with simple lemon, peach, melon flavors. aged in oak
-Pouilly-Fuisse AOC - concentrated stone fruit and tropical fruit flavors. aged in oak”
What are the characteristic of typical Chardonnay generally?
It varies
Typical cool climate -high acidity, light to medium body, flavors of green (apple and pear), citrus fruits (lemon adn lime) and wetstones
Moderate= medium to high acidity, medium to full body, flavors (lemon, stone fruit peach, tropical fruit (melon)
Warm = full bodied, medium in acidity, stone fruit (peach) and tropical fruit (pineapple and banana)
Describe the other grape varieties in Burgundy
Aligote -neutral flavors, high acid (unless grown on good site)
Gamay - ripe berry fruit raspberry, cherry fruit, red berry fruit, kirsch, banana, cinnamon like spice (from carbonic maceration). Low tannins. meant for early drinking
Describe the region of Chablis.
Lies in the valley of the River Serein in the northern most part of Burgundy.
Best vineyards have south facing slopes.
Basic village level is grown on north facing slopes and flatter land.
Chablis Premier Cru and Chablis Grand cru are located on south facing hillsides (giving greater concentration and ripeness). These wines show riper, more concentrated fruit (citrus rather than green apple), have more body, yet high acidity. Sometimes aged in old oak to provide a rounder texture and more subtle flavors. Others in stainless steel.
Petit Chablis (very austere with green fruit and high acidity (lesser vineyards)
Describe the Cote d’Or region.
-The Massif Central provides east and south-east facing hillside vineyard locations
Split into two parts:
(1) Cote de Nuits
Produces fullest bodied, longest lives Pinot Noirs
All but one grand cru red are from here.
(2) Cote de Beaune
Produces best Chardonnays
Also fruitier reds
All but one grand cru white are from here.
What are the key villages and Grand Cru sites of the Cote de Nuits.
Gevrey-Chambertin
-Chambertin
-Chambertin Clos de Beze
Vougeot
-Clos de Vougeot
Vosne Romanee
-Romanee Conti
-La Tache
-La Romanee
Nuits Saints-Georges
