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WSET 3 > 15 - Burgundy > Flashcards

15 - Burgundy Flashcards

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1
Q

Climate of Burgundy

A

from cool continental in the north to moderate continental further south

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2
Q

rain in Burgundy
(when, problems)

A
  • can frequently disrupt both flowering in early summer & harvest later in the year
    (Continental climate)
  • in a wet growing season: problems with grey rot
    (PN is particularly susceptible)
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3
Q

hazards in Burgundy

A
  • rain (flowering, harvest, grey rot)
  • spring frost
    (can appear as late as May in Chablis)
  • localised summer hailstorms
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4
Q

vineyard’s location in Burgundy

A
  • extremely important in determining its quality level in the appellation hierarchy
  • basic village-level vy tend to be located on flat sites or at the bottom of slopes
  • premier cru or grand cru level are often found mid-slope
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5
Q

why are 1er Cru & GC found mid-slope in Burgundy?

A
  • less prone to frost than those on flat land
  • soils on the hillsides tend to be shallower with better drainage, whereas the soil on the flat land is deeper and more fertile
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6
Q

Aspect of the highest-quality vineyards in Burgundy

A

south or east facing exposure
(offering protection from prevailing westerly winds)

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7
Q

soil in Burgundy

A
  • very varied
  • a large number of small geological faults, combined with gradual erosion
    –> precise soil types change significantly over small areas
  • soils on the hillsides tend to be shallower with better drainage, whereas the soil on the flat land is deeper and more fertile
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8
Q

grapes of Burgundy

A

PN & Chardonnay
Aligoté & Gamay

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9
Q

Pinot Noir in Burgundy

A
  • over 1/3 of the total vy area
  • most important plantings: Côte d’Or

Characteristics
- red fruit flavours in youth that evolve into flavours of earth, game & mushroom
- high acidity & low-medium tannins
(vary according to the vy, producer & vintage)

Wm techniques
- wide range of wm techniques
- whole bunches gradually become more popular
- best: 16-18 months’ barrel ageing is normal
- better wines aged in a proportion of new oak

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10
Q

Chardonnay in Burgundy

A
  • nearly half of the total vy area

Characteristics
- varies dramatically
- Chablis: lean, steely, high-acid
- Côte d’Or: complex, expressive
- Mâcon: full-bodied, riper-fruited
- best: well-balanced & complex expressions that can mature in bottle for a decade or more

Wm techniques
- Burgundian winemakers were the pioneers of the techniques that are now associated with premium Chardonnay production around the world:
- barrel fermentation
- barrel ageing (typically 6-9 months)
- MLF
- lees ageing

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11
Q

premature oxidation in Burgundy

A
  • Burgundian Chardonnays
  • not ageing as expected
  • some bottles of many premium wines showed signs of premature oxidation for their age
  • established problem in Burgundy, but as yet no cause has been identified definitively
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12
Q

Aligoté in Burgundy

A
  • tends to produce neutral wines with high acidity
  • capable of making high-quality wines when grown in sites where it can reach full ripeness (but these are usually reserved for PN & Chard.)
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13
Q

Gamay in Burgundy

A
  • produces early drinking red wines
  • ripe berry fruit
  • low tannins
  • can be used in some regional appellations, but only PN is allowed for wines of village level &d above
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14
Q

Describe the hierarchy of Burgundy Appellations
- levels
- size (production)
- type of vy
- on the label
- ex.

A
  • the appellations form a hierarchy based on the quality of the vineyard sites
  1. Regional Appellations
    - half of the production of the region
    - from vy that do not have the right to a superior appellation, or declassified from a superior appellation (excessive yields, quality-minded producer)
    - Bourgogne Rouge
    - Bourgogne Blanc
    - Bourgogne Hautes Côtes de Nuits
    - Bourgogne Hautes Côtes de Beaune
    - Bourgogne Côte Chalonnaise
    - Mâcon: red & white wines
    - Mâcon Villages: white wines only
  2. Commune/village Appellations
    - about 1/3 of the total production
    - on the label: name of the commune,
    if from a single vy the vy name may appear as well
  3. Singe Vineyard Appellations
    - vineyards that have consistently made high-quality wines
    - monopole: if the vy belong to just one owner (rare)

Premier Cru:
- 10% of the production
- more than 600 (Chablis, Côte d’Or, Côte Chalonnaise)
- on the label: must state premier cru,
if from a single vy, vy name also on the label

Grand Cru
- 1% of production
- 33 in Côte d’Or, 1 in Chablis
- on the label: must stategrand cru,
only the vy appears on the label

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15
Q

4 Burgundy Regions

A
  1. Chablis
  2. Côte d’Or (CdN, CdB)
  3. Côte Chalonnaise
  4. Mâconnais
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16
Q

Chablis is a … appellation (level)

A

VILLAGE/COMMUNE

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17
Q

what appellation lies in the valley of the River Serein?

A

Chablis

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18
Q

Where is Chablis located?

A

in the valley of the River Serein in the norther-most part of Burgundy

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19
Q

where are the best vineyards in Chablis planted?

A
  • on slopes
  • south-facing aspects
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20
Q

lesser vineyards in Chablis are classified as …

A

Petit Chablis

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21
Q

major climatic problem in Chablis, and protective measures used

A
  • frost
  • sprinklers & heaters
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22
Q

permitted grapes in Chablis

A

only Chardonnay

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23
Q

basic village level Chablis if often grown on …

A

north-facing slopes & flatter land

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24
Q

premier cru & grand cru vineyards of Chablis are located on ..

A

the south-facing hillsides

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25
what does the south-facing hillsides of Chablis give to the wine?
greater concentration & ripeness
26
characteristics of Petit Chablis & Chablis
- can be very austere - green fruit - high acidity better examples display riper fruit flavours
27
characteristics of Chablis Premier Cru & Chablis Grand Cru
- riper, more concentrated fruit (citrus, rather than green apple) - more body - balanced by high acidity
28
oak in Chablis?
A number of producers ferment or age a portion of their *grand cru* and sometimes *premier cru* wines in **old oak**, which can give a rounder texture & subtle flavours Others prefer to retain pure fruit flavours by fermenting & storing the wines in **stainless steel** or **concrete**
29
what does old oak bring to Chablis premier cru and GC wines?
rounder texture & subtle flavours
30
mountain range alongside the western limit of the Côte d'Or
The Massif Central
31
what does the Massif Central provide to Côte d'Or?
- favourable east & south-east facing hillside vineyard locations
32
general difference between wines in CdN vs CdB & how does the appellation system reflect this?
**CdN**: many of the fullest-bodied, longest-lived PN **CdB**: PN generally in a fruitier style, more famous for producing the best Chardonnays in the region - all of the **red** *grands crus*, except one, are produced on the **CdN** - all the **white** *grands crus*, except one, come from the **CdB**
33
Key villages of CdN from north to south (4) & their most famous grands crus sites (6)
1. **Gevrey-Chambertin** (Chambertin, Chambertin Clos de Bèze) 2. **Vougeot** (Clos de Vougeot) 3. **Vosne-Romanée** (Romanée-Conti, La Tâche, La Romanée) 4. **Nuits-Saint-Georges**
34
Important villages of CdB from north to south (7) & their most famous grands crus sites (4)
1. **Aloxe-Corton** (Corton, Corton-Charlemagne) 2. **Beaune** 3. **Pommard** 4. **Volnay** 5. **Meursault** 6. **Puligny-Montrachet** (Montrachet) 7. **Chassagne-Montrachet** (Montrachet)
35
2 appellations with **only red wine** in **CdB**
- Pommard - Volnay
36
appellations with both red & white wine in CdB (5)
- Aloxe-Corton - Beaune - Meursault - Puligny-Montrachet - Chassagne-Montrachet
37
the 3 villages with the highest reputation for their white wines
- Meursault - Puligny-Montrachet - Chassagne-Montrachet
38
which villages is sharing the grand cru of Montrachet?
- Puligny-Montrachet - Chassagne-Montrachet
39
red, white or both for 1. Côte de Nuits-Villages 2. Côte de Beaune-Villages
1. CdN: red or white 2. CdB: must be red But there are exceptions!
40
1. Where are **Bourgogne Hautes Côtes de Nuits** and **Bourgogne Hautes Côtes de Beaune** situated? 2. 2 factors that will influence the climate 3. How are the characteristics of the wines affected by this?
1. to the west of and at a higher altitude to the main strip of vineyards 2. altitude & greater exposure to winds gives them a cooler climate 3. slightly less body & concentration
41
where is Côte Chalonnaise?
to the south of the Côte d'Or
42
main grapes in Côte Chalonnaise
- Chardonnay - PN
43
1. geography of Côte Chalonnaise compared to Côte d'Or 2. how does this affect the grapes & wines? 3. more/less prestigious than Côte d'Or?
- higher altitude of the vineyards - aspect is less consistently towards the east (but still on hillside) - harvest is later & ripening less reliable - lighter & tend to mature earlier - LESS prestigious
44
4 village appellations in the Côte Chalonnaise & short info regarding wines there
* each have *premier cru* vineyards but no *grands crus* **Rully** - produces more white wine than red - important centre for the production of sparkling wine **Mercurey** - the village on Côte Chalonnaise whose red wines enjoy the highest reputation **Givry** - whose reds are particularly admired - the smallest of the village appellations **Montagny** - produces only white wines
45
Where is **Rully**, and what wines are made there?
- in Côte Chalonnaise - more white wine than red - also an important centre for production of sparkling wine - have *premier cru* but no *grands crus*
46
Where is **Mercurey**, and what wines are made there?
- in Côte Chalonnaise - reds with the highest reputation in CC - also make white (står ikke i boken) - have *premier cru* but no *grands crus*
47
Where is **Givry**, and what wines are made there?
- in Côte Chalonnaise - reds particularly admired - also make white (står ikke i boken) - have *premier cru* but no *grands crus*
48
Where is **Montagny**, and what wines are made there?
- in Côte Chalonnaise - produces only white wines - have *premier cru* but no *grands crus*
49
Bourgogne Côte Chalonnaise
- applies to all wines made on the Côte Chalonnaise from PN for red, & Chardonnay for white. - regional appellation
50
where is Mâconnais?
between Côte Chalonnaise & Beaujolais
51
the most widely planted grape of the Mâconnais
Chardonnay
52
1. Red or white wines in Mâconnais? 2. Which grape(s)?
Both - Chardonnay is the most widely planted grape - Reds tend to be made of Gamay - Some PN is still grown
53
appellations in Mâconnais (4)
1. Mâcon (regional) 2. Mâcon Villages or Mâcon [specific village] --> ie. Mâcon Lugny 3. Pouilly-Fuissé (village appellation) 4. Saint-Véran (village appellation)
54
what is the local regional appellation in Mâconnais?
Mâcon
55
red or white in Mâcon?
red or white
56
characteristics of white Mâcon
- good balance - fresh apple or citrus fruit - medium acidity - medium to full body - may be a hint of creaminess from MLF
57
characteristics of red Mâcon
tend to be light & fruity & made for early drinking
58
Mâcon vs Mâcon Villages
**Mâcon**: red or white **Mâcon Villages** or Mâcon followed by a particular village: - white wines that generally represent excellent value for money - generally similar in style to white Mâcon, but tend to display more ripeness, body & character
59
the 2 most famous village appellations in Mâconnais
1. Pouilly-Fuissé 2. Saint-Véran
60
characteristics of the wines from Pouilly-Fuissé & Saint-Véran
best: - ripe notes of tropical & stone fruits - most are matured for a period of time in barrel (to enhance texture & add flavours) - some of the richest & ripest Chardonnays in Burgundy, often complemented by toasty oak flavours
61
soil and slopes of Pouilly-Fuissé & Saint-Véran
- limestone slopes of the Roche de Solutré - east & south-east exposures - amphitheatre-like slopes (act as natural suntraps)
62
natural suntraps in Burgundy
amphitheatre-like slopes of Pouilly-Fuissé & Saint-Véran in Mâconnais

WSET 3 (45 decks)

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