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WSET 3 - Geoff > C15 - Burgundy (reviewed) > Flashcards

C15 - Burgundy (reviewed) Flashcards

1
Q

Describe climate of burgundy

A
  • Overall: Cool continental in the north around Chablis and moderate continental further south in Maconnais
  • Rain
    • Frequently disrupts flowering in early summer and harvest later in the year
    • Making grey rot a potential issue since Pinot Noir is a thin-skinned grape highly suceptible to grey rot
  • Hazards: spring frosts and summer hail
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2
Q

Describe climate of Chablis

A

Highly suceptible to spring frosts as late as May

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3
Q

Where are the more generic vs. premier / grand cru vineyards usually located in Burgundy?

A
  • Basic: on flat sites or at the bottom of slopes
  • Premium:
    • mid-slope as makes them less prone to frost
    • South or east facing: sun exposure and sheltered from prevailing westerly winds
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4
Q

Describe soils of Burgundy?

A
  • The soils are very varied, as a result of a large number of geological faults combined with gradual erosion
  • Resulting in subtle changes in wine-style
  • Soils on hillsides are shallower and better drained
  • Soil on flat land is deeper and more fertile
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5
Q

What are the grapes used in Burgundy wine production?

A
  • Pinot Noir (Over a third of the production, grown throughout, but the most important plantings are in the Côte d’Or)
  • Chardonnay (~50%)
  • Aligoté
  • Gamay
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6
Q

Describe typical Burgundian Pinot Noir

A
  • High acidity
  • Low to medium tannin
  • Red fruit flavours in youth
  • Evolve into flavours of earth, game and mushroom
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7
Q

Which practice gradually became more popular in Burgundian vinification of Pinot Noir?

A

The use of whole bunches

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8
Q

Describe Pinot Noir aging in Burgundy’s best wines?

A
  • 16 to 18 months in barrel
  • Generally speaking the better wines will be aged in a proportion of new oak (although it really depends on the producer).
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9
Q

What proportion of vineyard area in Burgundy does Chardonnay usually account for?

A

Nearly half

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10
Q

Describe the character of Chardonnay in Burgundy

A

The character of Chardonnay in Burgundy varies daramtically depending on the region:

  • Chablis - Lean, steely and high acid
  • Côte d’Or - Complex and expressive
  • Mâcon - Full bodied, riper fruits

Chardonnay in Burgundy is the foundation of the modern style of premium Chardonnay production

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11
Q

What are the four modern techniques used in Chardonnay production in Burgundy that now contribute to the world’s most famous Chardonnays?

A
  • Barrel fermentation
  • Barrel ageing (6-9 months typically)
  • MLF
  • Using lees during maturation
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12
Q

What is still in high debate when it comes to Burgundian vinification of Chardonnay?

A
  • How much new oak ageing is appropriate
  • The appropriate amount of toasting for barrels
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13
Q

How long can the best Burgundian Chardonnay age for?

A

Ten years or more

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14
Q

What problem was discovered with Burgundian Chardonnays 15 years ago?

A
  • Chardonnays were not ageing as expected with some bottles of premium wines showing signs of premature oxidation
  • This is now an established problem in Burgundy
  • No cause (whether vineyard of winery-based) has yet been identified.
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15
Q

What is the other white grape variety grown in Burgundy and what are its flavour profile ?

A
  • Aligoté
  • White grape
  • Neutral wines
  • High acidity
  • It can provide high quality wines when grown in the right vineyard where it can ripen fully but these are usually reserved for Chardonnay so such wines are rare.
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16
Q

Why does Aligoté rarely produce quality wines in Burgundy?

A

Appropriate sites are usually taken by Chardonnay and Pinot Noir

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17
Q

Describe Gamay in Burgundy

A
  • Early drinking red
  • Low tannins
  • Ripe berry fruit
  • Some regional appelations, but nothing higher. Only Pinot Noir for wine of Village level and above.
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18
Q

Describe Chablis in Burgundy

A
  • Location: In the valley of the Serein River (northernmost Burgundy)
  • Climate: Cool continental
    • Spring frosts are major hazards - use of sprinklers and heatersis common
  • Wineyards:
    • Basic/village level grown on North-facing slopes & flatter land
    • Premier/grand cru sites grown on South facing hillsides
  • Wines:
    • Chardonnary is only permitted grape variety
    • Lesser Chablis vineyards are known as Petit Chablis
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19
Q

Describe the flavours of Chablis

A

Petit Chablis and Chablis

  • Can be very austere with green fruit and high acidity
  • Better examples show riper fruit flavours

Chablis Crus

  • High acidity
  • More body
  • Riper, more concentrated fruit (citrus rather than green apple)
  • Some Cru producers age Chablis in old oak to gives a rounder texture and subtle flavours
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20
Q

How may pure fruit flavours be retained in Chablis?

A

By fermenting and storing wines in stainless steel or concrete

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21
Q

What are the different appellations in Burgundy?

A
  • Regional appellations
    • Bourgogne Rouge, Bourgogne Blanc
    • Bourgogne Hautes Côtes de Nuits
    • Bourgogne Hautes Côtes de Beane
    • Bourgogne Côtes Chalonnaise
    • Macon (red and white)
    • Macon Villages (white only)
    • Côte de Nuits-Villages
    • Côte de Beaune Villages
  • Communal appellations - e.g, Chablis, Chambertin
  • Single Vineyard appleations: Premiers Crus and Grands Crus
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22
Q

Describe Côte d’Or

A
  • The Massif Central runs along the western limit of Côte d’Or, providing favourable east and southeast facing hillside locations
  • Côte de Nuits
    • Best known for many of the fullest-bodied, longest-lived Pinot Noirs
    • Home to all but one of the red Grand Crus
  • Côte de Beaune
    • Best know for the best Chardonnays in Burgundy
    • Home to all but one of the white Grand Crus
    • Also produces reds in a fruitier style than those of Côte de Nuits
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23
Q

List the key villages of Côtes de Nuit, running from north to south with their key grands crus sites

A
  • Gevrey-Chambertin (Chambertin, Chambertin Clos de Bèze)
  • Vougeot (Clos de Vougeot)
  • Vosne-Romanée (Romanée-Conti, La Tâche, La Romanée)
  • Nuits Saint-Georges
24
Q

List the key villages of the Côtes-de-Beaune in order from north to south, with their Grands Crus

A

Most known for red

  • Aloxe-Corton (Corton, Corton-Charlemagne)
  • Beaune
  • Pommard (red only)
  • Volnay (red only)

Most known for white

  • Meursault
  • Puligny-Montrachet (Montrachet)
  • Chassagne-Montrachet (Montrachet)
25
Q

What colour of wines do the key villages of Côtes de Beaune produce?

A

Both (all except for Pommard and Volnay which produce red only)

26
Q

What are the three villages of Côtes de Beaune with the highest reputation for white wines?

A
  • Meursault
  • Puligny-Montrachet
  • Chassagne-Montrachet
27
Q

Describe regional appleations of Côtes de Nuits and Côte de Beaune

A

Côtes de Nuits-Villages and Côte de Beaune Villages

  • Located to the west and at higher altitudes
  • Higher altitudes and greater exposure to wind gives them a cooler climate and wines with less body and concentration

Côtes de Nuits-Villages

  • Red or a white wine
  • Can be from any village that doesn’t qualify as an appellation

Côte de Beaune Villages

  • Red wine only
  • Can come from any one or several village in Côte de Beaune (with some exceptions)
28
Q

Describe Côte Challonaise

A
  • Located to the south of the Côte d’Or
  • Higher altitude
  • Main grapes are Chardonnay Pinot Noir
  • Due to the higher altitude harvest is later and ripening is less reliable
  • Aspect is less consistently toward the east
  • As a result - wines are lighter and mature earlier
29
Q

What are the four main village appellations of the Côte Chalonnaise from North to South?

A
  • Rully - More wines are white than red, an important centre for sparkling production
  • Mercurey - Red wines enjoy the highest reputation of the Côte Chalonnaise
  • Givry - quality red wines, smallest appellation of Chalonnaise
  • Montagny - white wines only

All of the communes have premier cru vineyards, but no grands crus

30
Q

Describe wines of Rully

A

More wines are white than red

An important centre for sparkling production

31
Q

Describe the wines of Mercurey

A

Red wines enjoy the highest reputation of the Chalonnaise

32
Q

Describe Givry and its wines

A

High reputation red wines

Smallest appellation of Chalonnaise

33
Q

Describe the wines of Montagny

A

These are only white

34
Q

Which of the four village appellations of Cote Chalonnaise have a premier cru and/or a grand cu

A

All of the communes have premier cru vineyards, but no grands crus

35
Q

What is the regional appellation for the Côte Chalonnaise? Why style of wine can they be?

A
  • Bourgogne Côte Chalonnaise
  • White wine from Chardonnay
  • Red wine from Pinot Noir
36
Q

What are the most widely planted grapes of the Mâconnais?

A
  • Chardonnay - most planted grapes
  • Gamay - principal red grape though some Pinot Noir is made
37
Q

What is the regional appellation for the Mâconnais? Describe it

A
  • Mâcon
  • Can be red or white
  • Better whites:
    • Medium acidity
    • Medium to full body
    • Fresh apple or citrus fruit
    • Some possible creaminess from MLF
  • Red: Light and fruity, made for early drinking
38
Q

Describe wines labelled Mâcon Villages or Mâcon followed by a village name

A
  • White wine
    • More ripeness, body and character than Mâcon
    • Excellent value for money
  • Village with the biggest reputation: Lugny
  • May come from any village if labelled Mâcon Villages
39
Q

Which are the two most famous village appellations in The Mâconnais?Descibe…

A
  • Two most famous villages: Pouilly-Fuissé and Saint-Véran
  • Ripe notes of tropical and stone fruits
  • Most matured for a time in barrel to enhance texture and add flavour
  • Planed on the limestone slopes of the Roche de Solutré with east and southeast exposures
  • The slopes of Roche de Solutré are amphitheatre-like and act as natural sun traps and therefore produces some of the richest and ripest Chardonnays in Burgundy
  • Often complemented by toasty oak flavours
40
Q

What is the hierarchy of Burgundy appellations based on?

A

The quality of the vineyard sites

41
Q

Describe the lowest rank in the Burgundy appellation hierarchy

A
  • Regional appellations of Bourgogne Rouge and Bourgogne Blanc
  • Vineyards that do not have the right to a superior appellation (or declassified region e.g. if excessive yield)
  • Usually Pinot Noir or Chardonnay
42
Q

Name Burgundy’s regional appellations which cover a slightly more restricted area

A
  • Bourgogne Hautes Côtes de Nuits
  • Bourgogne Hautes Côtes de Beaune
  • Bourgogne Côte Challonaise
  • Mâcon (Red and white)
  • Mâcon Villages (white only)
43
Q

What is the next highest rank after regional appellations in Burgundy?

A

Commune appellations

44
Q

What proportion of production in Burgundy do commune appellations account for?

A

About a third

45
Q

What else may appear on a Burgundy commune wine other than the commune name? Why?

A

Vineyard name If the wine comes from a single vineyard and the vineyard is not a Cru

46
Q

What term is sometimes used in Burgundy instead of commune?

A

Village

47
Q

What are the appellations in Burgundy above commune?

A

Premier Cru

Grand Cru

48
Q

What are Cru vineyards?

A

Vineyards that have consistently made high-quality wines

49
Q

What is a monopole?

A

A vineyard which belongs to just one owner

50
Q

How are vineyards organised in Burgundy?

A

They are divided between a number of different owners, each owning a different parcel of vines

51
Q

How many premiers crus are spread between Chablis, the Côte d’Or and the Challonaise?

A

More than 600 representing 10% of Burgundy’s total production

52
Q

What may also appear on a premier cru label (other than premier cru)?

A

The name of the vineyard

If the wine comes from a single vineyard

53
Q

When may there be no vineyard name on the label of a Burgundy premier cru vineyard?

A

If the wine is a blend of wines from various premier cru vineyards within a village

54
Q

What is the very top of the Burgundy appellation hierarchy?

A
  • Grand Cru
  • Little more than 1% of the total production of Burgundy
  • 33 Côte d’Or and one Chablis
55
Q

How can the grand cru wines of Burgundy be recognised? What else must appear?

A

Only the vineyard appears on the label ‘Grand Cru’

WSET 3 - Geoff (45 decks)

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