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Flashcards in 15. Burgundy Deck (39)
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1
Q

Describe the climate of Burgundy.

A
  • ranges from cool continental (north - Chablis) to moderate continental (south)
  • rain common in early summer and at harvest
  • spring frosts (Chablis)
  • localized summer hailstorms
2
Q

Where are basic village-level vineyards located? What about premier or grand cru?

A

basic village = flat sites, bottom of slopes
premier/grand cru = mid-slope
-highest quality are south or east facing exposure (protection for westerly winds)

3
Q

Describe the soil of hillside vineyards vs. flat sites of Burgundy.

A
  • varied soils
  • hillside: shallower, better drainage
  • flat land: deeper, more fertile
4
Q

What is the problem we’re seeing of some older Burgundian Chardonnays?

A
  • around 15 years ago, noticed that these wines were not aging as expected
  • signs of oxidation
  • no cause identified
5
Q

What are the white varieties of Burgundy?

A
  • Chardonnay: 50% of the production

- Aligoté

6
Q

Describe Aligoté.

A
  • neutral wines

- high acidity

7
Q

Where is Chablis? Where are the most favorable sites in Chablis?

A
  • valley of the River Serein
  • northern-most part of Burgundy
  • favorable sites: on south-facing slopes
8
Q

What is Petit Chablis?

A

classification of lesser vineyards in Chablis

9
Q

Where are the most favorable sites in Chablis? What are the basic village level sites?

A
  • favorable sites: on south-facing hillsides (more concentration and ripeness)
  • basic sites: north-facing slopes, flatter land
10
Q

Describe Chablis wine. How is it made?

A
  • austere
  • green fruit
  • high acidity
  • better examples: riper fruit (citrus rather than green apple), more body
  • Some: ferment or age a portion in old oak (rounder texture, subtle flavors)
  • Others: ferment and store in stainless steel or concrete
11
Q

What is Cote de Beaune known for?

A

-best Chardonnays in the region

12
Q

Name (from north to south) the key villages of the Cote de Beaune. Which produce only red wine?

A
  1. Aloxe-Corton (Corton, Corton-Charlemagne)
  2. Beaune
  3. Pommard*
  4. Volnay*
  5. Meursault
  6. Puligny-Montrachet (Montrachet)
  7. Chassagne-Montrachet (Montrachet)

*only red

13
Q

What are the top villages of Burgundy for white wine?

A

Meursault
Puligny-Montrachet
Chassagne-Montrachet

14
Q

Which can be a white wine: Cote de Nuits-Village or Cote de Beaune-Village?

A

Cote de Nuits-Village

15
Q

Where is the Cote Chalonnaise? Describe wine from the Cote Chalonnaise.

A
  • south of Cote d’Or
  • higher altitude (late harvest, less reliable ripening)
  • less consistent east-facing aspect
  • lighter wines, mature earlier
  • less prestigious than Cote d’Or
16
Q

Name the four villages of the Cote Chalonnaise and what types of wines they produce.

A
  1. Rully (more white than red, sparkling)
  2. Mercurey (red wines)
  3. Givrey (red wines)
  4. Montagny (only white)

Note: premier cru but no grand cru

17
Q

Describe the better white wines from the Macon.

A
  • fresh apple, citrus
  • medium acidity
  • medium-to-full body
  • hint of creaminess from MLF
18
Q

Describe Macon Villages wine. Name one specific village with a following.

A
  • good value
  • more ripeness, body, and character than Macon
  • Lugny: village with considerable following.
19
Q

Name the two most famous village appellations within the Macon and describe their geography and flavors.

A
  • Pouilly-Fuissé and Saint-Véran
  • ripe notes of tropical and stone fruit
  • toasty oak flavors: matured in barrels to enhance texture and flavor
  • limestone slopes (east/south-east exposure)
  • richest and ripest
20
Q

What is the main red grape of Burgundy? Describe these wines.

A

Pinot Noir

  • red fruit flavors in youth
  • evolve into earth, game, mushroom
  • high acid
  • low to medium tannins
  • varies with vintage
21
Q

Describe winemaking techniques of Burgundian Pinot Noir.

A
  • whole bunches increasing in popularity
  • 16-18 months barrel aging for best wines
  • typically proportion on new oak
22
Q

What are the two parts of the Cote d’Or? What type of wines are each known for?

A

Cote de Nuits

  • north
  • fullest body
  • longest lived
  • Pinot Noir
  • all of the red grand crus (except 1)

Cote de Beaune

  • south
  • fruiter stle
  • Pinot Noir
  • more famous for Chardonnay
  • all of the white grand crus
23
Q

What are the key villages, from north to south, of the Cote de Nuits? Also name their most famous grand cru sites.

A
  1. Gevrey-Chambertin (Chambertin, Chambertin Clos de Beze)
  2. Vougeot (Clos de Vougeot)
  3. Vosne-Romanée (Romanee-Conti, La Tache, La Romanee)
  4. Nuits-Saint-George
24
Q

Describe Cote de Nuit-Villages.

A
  • can be red or white

- from villages on Cote de Nuit but doesn’t quality for one of the more famous village appellations

25
Q

Describe Cote de Beaune-Villages.

A
  • must be red

- can come from any one, or a combination of the villages on the Cote de Beaune

26
Q

Describe Bourgogne Hautes Cotes de Nuits and bourgogne Hautes Cotes de Beaune.

A
  • to the west of and at a higher altitude of the main vineyards
  • cooler climate
  • less body
  • less concentration
27
Q

What is Bourgogne Cote Chalonnaise?

A
  • all wines made on the Cote Chalonnaise from Pinot Noir for reds or Chardonnay for whites
  • regional appelation
28
Q

What red grapes are grown in the Macon?

A
  • mostly Gamay

- some Pinot Noir

29
Q

What percentage of total production do regional wines account for?

A

over 50%

30
Q

What is Bourgogne Rouge typically made of? Bourgogne blanc?

A

Rouge - PN

Blanc - Chardonnay

31
Q

What level of classification is Bourgogne Rouge? Bourgogne Hautes Cotes de Nuits? Macon Villages? Macon?

A

Regional

32
Q

Can a Macon Villages be only white, only red or either?

A

only white

33
Q

What percentage of total production do commune appellation wines account for?

A

1/3

34
Q

What does premier cru and grand cru mean?

A

Appellations that have consistently made high quality wine

  • not typically owned by one person
  • several people own plots within the cru
35
Q

If a premier cru or grand cru vineyard is owned by one person, what is it called?

A

Monopole

36
Q

How many premier crus are there between Chablis, Cote d’Or, and Cote Chalonnaise? What percentage of total production do they produce?

A

600

1/10 of production

37
Q

Can premier cru wines be blended from different crus and still labeled “premier cru”?

A

Yes! If they are not blended and the wine is from a single vineyard, they can write the name of the vineyard on the label too

38
Q

What percentage of total production do grand cru wines account for?

A

just over 1%

39
Q

Where are the grand crus located? How many?

A

33 in Cote d’Or
1 in Chablis
-vineyard appears on label along with “grand cru”