White Burgundy Flashcards
Basic Meursault description
Meursault
Despite its lack of Grand Cru vineyards, Meursault’s white wines are lauded
for their rich, nutty, textural qualities. “Les Perrières” is a high quality Premier
Cru.
How many Grand Cru in Meursault?
Zero
Basic Puligny-Montrachet
Puligny-Montrachet AOP takes its name from the Montrachet Grand Cru, site of the world’s most prestigious Chardonnay vines. Puligny is often
racier than Meursault’s whites, with distinctive mineral character.
Basic Chassagne-Montrachet
Chassagne-Montrachet, like Puligny, lays claim to part of the Montrachet Grand Cru. The white wines from Chassagne-Montrachet are often weightier and broader than wines from neighboring Puligny. Steely power, bright and concentrated citrus, stone or tropical fruit characteristics and attractive textures ranging from plush to tactile, grippy and mineral-driven.
Quick version of Mercurey in the CÔTE CHALONNAISE
a typical Chardonnay gold, it varies in its degree of paleness and is flecked with green. It boasts aromas of white flowers (mayflower, acacia), hazelnut, almond, and spices (cinnamon, pepper). A touch of flint is a trademark of this wine. Full of flavour, it is an eminently drinkable wine.
Which wine is this? The whites run through the entire gamut of citrus aromas and white flowers (hawthorn, acacia). The mouth is frequently full and rounded, introducing a fine and persistent minerality. Both reds and whites are delicious while still young but, given time, will more fully reflect the typicity of their terroir.
Marsannay in the Côte de Nuits
Which wine is this? white or grey-gold in colour. The pleasant initial bouquet is of mayflower and acacia with an occasional hint of mango. A touch of minerality is often found. In the older wines, aromas range from amber to gingerbread to quince to fig. This wine is on the dry side but with that underlying richness which is the trademark of the Côte de Nuits Chardonnay.
White wine growing, uncommon in this area, nonetheless has a long history going back to the Cistercian monks.
Vougeot in the Côte de Nuits
Which wine is this? Elegant and full of charm, this white wine has a color ranging from pale to deep gold, flecked with green. Different families of aromas make up the bouquet: mineral notes (silex), almond and hazelnut, citrus notes (lemon, grapefruit, and pineapple), white fruits (peaches), bracken, acacia, breadcrumbs, buttered brioche, and honey. The texture is opulent, and the structure, thanks partly to the wine’s natural richness, is full of flavor. It is by nature delicate and distinguished.
Pouilly-Fuissé
Which wine is this? This great dry white wine expresses the quintessence of the Chardonnay grape through its elegance and its fruit. It may be enjoyed in a number of different ways and different circumstances. When young, its greeny-gold colour and nose of acacia and hawthorn flowers qualify it to be drunk as a pre-dinner drink. Its freshness reveals aromas of peach and lemon or grapefruit. After 3 to 5 years in the bottle (depending on the vintage), its gold turns to amber and more complex notes emerge, ranging from pear and apricot to quince and dried fruits, hazelnut or toasted almond, or even gingerbread. There is wide variation between Climats in this appellation so it may turn out opulent and silky or friskier and more mineral.
In any case, it always retains its balanced structure which ensures a long finish in the mouth.
Pouilly-Loché (I haven’t tried one yet) Appellation Village of the Mâconnais region
Which wine is this? The colour is that of very pale yellow gold, brilliant and crystal-clear. The nose develops subtle fruit aromas (peach, pear) or acacia, honeysuckle and bracken, often over notes of fresh almond, hazelnut, cinnamon, butter, and sometimes honey. Exotic fruits are sometimes present, as are citrus notes (orange peel). On the palate, this white wine is dry and well-rounded, mineral (gun-flint) and lively from the first attack. Acidity and fatness come increasingly into play. The structure is harmonious, fresh and round.
Saint-Véran Appellation Village of the Mâconnais region
Which wine is this? a bright, limpid pale gold. It is redolent of aromas of honey or lemon with notes of lime and lily, then dried fruits (often toasted) come to the fore after the wine has aged some years. The mouth is delicate, with a balance between mellowness and acidity which guarantees its keeping qualities as well as giving it good length.
Givry Appellation Village of the Côte Chalonnaise region (Saône-et-Loire).
This appellation includes 38 Premiers Crus Climats.
Which wine is this? To the eye, these wines present the classic features of a burgundian Chardonnay: limpid, pale gold colour with green highlights when young, darker gold colour with age. Their aromas are acacia, mayflower, honeysuckle, bramble flowers, and sometimes violet and bracken. Of the livelier scents, lemon-balm and gun-flint may be added.
Hazelnut, white peach and ripe pear would not be surprising, either. In the mouth, the wine is always fresh, young at heart, frisky, alluring, and rich in spicy back-flavours. Refinement and delicacy are harmoniously matched to a durably well-built structure.
Montagny Appellation Village of the Côte Chalonnaise region
Which wine is this? this wine is gold flecked with green, and the gold deepens with age. It is redolent with superb aromas of hedgerow flowers (acacia, may, honeysuckle, and a very delicate elderflower) as well as violet, lemon, white peach or flint. Time brings out honey, quince, and dried fruits. Indeed, this wine is full of fruit, which on the palate is lively and well-rounded, meaty and long. It has both the coolness and the polish of marble.
Rully Village appellation of the Côte Chalonnaise district
Which wine? White: subtle differences in the wines signal variations in Climat but they also share many common traits. Their colour is gold flecked with emerald, darkening towards yellow with age. Their bouquet evokes butter and warm croissants, bracken, dried fruit, spices and honey. Body and bouquet are not separately distinguishable, so closely blended are structure and harmony into a single perfect whole. Unctuous and firm, dry and caressing, enveloped and profound, these wines combine every virtue in a firmly-established personality.
Bâtard-Montrachet Grands Crus of the Côte de Beaune region (Côte-d’Or).
Which wine? White: subtle differences in the wines signal variations in Climat but they also share many common traits. Their colour is gold flecked with emerald, darkening towards yellow with age. Their bouquet evokes butter and warm croissants, bracken, dried fruit, spices and honey. Body and bouquet are not separately distinguishable, so closely blended are structure and harmony into a single perfect whole. Unctuous and firm, dry and caressing, enveloped and profound, these wines combine every virtue in a firmly-established personality.
Chevalier-Montrachet Grands Crus of the Côte de Beaune region (Côte-d’Or).
