Burgundy

Question 1

What are the climate ranges in Burgundy?

Answer 1

Cool continental in the north (e.g. Chablis) and moderate continental in the south.

Question 2

How does rain impact the region?

Answer 2

Rain can frequently disrupt flowering in early summer and harvest later in the year.

Question 3

What disease is Pinot Noir particularly susceptible to and during which season does it occur?

Answer 3

Grey rot. Wet growing season.

Question 4

What are the two most common grape varietals from Burgundy? Name two other grapes as well.

Answer 4

Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Aligote and Gamay also grown.

Question 5

Name two climatic hazards that occur and their impact on grapes.

Answer 5

Spring frosts, particularly in Chablis, where they can appear as late as May, and localised hailstorms, which can often destroy considerable proportions of a grower’s crop.

Question 6

Where do you generally find village-level vineyards vs. premier cru or grand cru? Name some advantage of the premiur/grand cru location?

Answer 6

Basic village-level vineyards are usually located on flat sites or at the bottom of slopes. Premier/grand cru are often found mid-slope.

Hillside locations are less prone to frost than flat land. Highest quality vineyards are usually found on south or east facing exposure slopes, offering protection from prevailing westerly winds.

Question 7

How much does Pinot Noir account for in Burgundy? Where is it grown (and where are the most important plantings)?

Answer 7

Over a third of total vineyard area. It is grown everywhere, but the most important plantings are in Cote d’Or.

Question 8

Describe the flavours of Burgundian Pinot Noir.

Answer 8

Red fruit flavours in youth that evolve into flavours of earth, game, and mushrooms as the wine matures. High acidity and low to medium levels of tannins, but this can vary according to the vineyard, the producer, and the vintage.

Question 9

Describe some aspects of winemaking for Pinot Noir in Burgundy.

Answer 9

Wide range of techniques; whole bunches has gradually become more popular. For the best wines, 16-18 months barrel ageing is normal, with the better wines aged in a proportion of new oak (depending on producer).

Question 10

How much does Chardonnay account for growth wise in Burgundy?

Answer 10

1/2 the total vineyard area, varying from lean steely high-acid wines of Chablis in the north (Cote d’Or) to the more full-bodied riper-fruited wines of Macon in the south.

Question 11

Describe the winemaking techniques for Chardonnay in Burgundy.

Answer 11

Barrel fermentation, barrel ageing (ave 6-9 months), malolactic conversion for white wines and use of lees during maturation. How much new oak is appropriate and ideal toasting is heavily debated.

Question 12

How does vertical shoot positioning benefit grapes?

Answer 12

Light can clearly penetrate the canopy and the fruit is unshaded.

Question 13

What is a recent noticeable problem with ageing of some Burgundian Chardonnays?

Answer 13

Not ageing as expected due to premature oxidation for their age (noticed around 20 years ago). Several causes, both vineyard and winery-based have been suggested, with producers adapting practices to avoid this problem.

Question 14

Describe Aligote grape and Gamay grape.

Answer 14

Aligote is a white grape, producing neutral wines with high acidity. It can make high-quality wines when grown in sites where it can reach full ripeness, but these are often reserved for more profitable Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.

Gamay produces early drinking red wines with ripe berry fruit and low tannins. It can be used in some regional appellations but only Pinot Noir is allowed for wines of village level and above.

Question 15

How are Burgundy appellations stratified?

Answer 15

Regions, villages, and vineyards.

Question 16

Where is the Chablis village appelation located and what grape is allowed to be grown?

Answer 16

In the valley of the River Serein in the northern-most part of Burgundy, northern-most part of Burgundy. Some of the lesser vineyards are classified as Petit Chablis. The only grape permitted is Chardonnay.

Question 17

What is the major climatic problem in Chablis and how to winemakers deal with it?

Answer 17

Frost. Sprinklers and heaters are both used as protective measures.

Question 18

Where is village level Chablis grown vs. premier cru or grand cru?

Answer 18

North-facing slopes and flatter land, whereas premier cru and grand cru vineyards are located on south-facing hillsides, giving greater concentration and ripeness to these wines.

Question 19

Describe the flavour profile of Chablis and Petit Chablis; and more specifically Chablis Premier Cru and Chablis Grand Cru.

Answer 19

Very austere, with green fruit and high acidity, with better examples displaying riper fruit flavours.

The better wines tend to be located on hillside sites with a better aspect. They show riper, more concentrated fruit (citrus, rather than green apple), and have more body, yet are still balanced by high acidity. Some producers ferment or age a portion of their grand cru and premier cru wines in old oak, which can give rounder texture and subtle flavours, others preferring to retain pure fruit flavours by fermenting and storing wines in stainless steel or concrete.

Question 20

Where are the Cote d’Or vineyards located?

Answer 20

The heartland of Burgundy. The Massif Central runs alongside the western limit of the Cote d’Or, providing favourable East and South-East facing hillside vineyard locations.

Question 21

What are the two areas of Cote d’Or called? How do Pinot Noir generally differ between these two areas? How is this reflected in the appellation system?

Answer 21

Cote de Nuits in the North, producing some of the fullest-bodied longest-lived Pinot Noirs, and Cote de Beaune in the South, producing fruitier style (however it is more famous for producing some of the best Chardonnays).

All the red grand cru (except one) are produced on the Cote de Nuits, while all the white grand crus , except one, are produced in Cote de Beaune.

Question 22

Name the Cote de Nuits main villages from North to South.

Answer 22

Gevrey-Chambertin (chambertin, Chambertin Clos de Beze)

Vougeot (Clos de Vougeot)

Vosne-Romanee (Romanee-Conti, La Tache, La Romanee)

Nuits-Saint-Georges.

Question 23

Name the Cote de Beaune key villages from North to South. Which two regions produce only red wines?

Answer 23

Aloxe-Corton (Corton, Coton-Charlemagne)

Beaune

Pommard (only red wines)

Volnay (only red wines)

Meursault

Montrachet (Montrachet)

Question 24

Which three villages in Cote de Beaune have the highest reputations for white wines?

Answer 24

Meursault, Puligny-Montrachet, Chassagne-Montrachet (with the last two villages sharing the grands cru of Montrachet).

Question 25

Describe Cotes de Nuits-Villages wines.

Answer 25

These can be red or whites, coming from vineyards in Cotes de Nuit that don't qualify for one of the more famous village appellations.

Question 26

Describe Cotes de Beaune Villages wines compared to Bourgogne Cote d'Or.

Answer 26

Must be red and can come from any one, or a combination, of villages in Cote de Beaune, with some exceptions. The latter is a recently introduced appellation for wines that can be red OR white and produced from any villages in Cote d'Or.

Question 27

Where are the Bourgogne Hautes Cotes de Nuits and Bourgogne Hautes Cotes de Beaune located and how does this impact the wines?

Answer 27

West, higher altitude to the main strip of vineyards. The altitude and greater exposure to winds gives them a cooler climate, meaning the wines typically have slightly less body and concentration.

Question 28

Describe where Cote Chalonnaise is located and how this impacts grapes?

Answer 28

South of Cote d'Or, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir are the main grapes here. Higher altitude means later harvest a ripening is less reliable. Aspect less consistently east facing, and as such the wines are lighter and tend to mature earlier. Generally considered to be less prestigious wines than Cote d'Or.

Question 29

Name the four main village Appellations of the Cote Chalonnaise.

Answer 29

Rully produces more white wine than red, particularly sparkling wine. Mercurey, highest reputation reds in the region. Givry, high ranked reds, smallest village appellation. Montagny produces only white wines. All have premier crus vineyards but no grands cru.

Question 30

Bourgogne Cote Chalonaisse applies to what wines?

Answer 30

Pinot noir and Chardonnay, and it is classified as a regional appellation.

Question 31

Name the most widely planted grape in Maconnais.

Answer 31

Chardonnay is the most widely planted, Gamay is next for red wines, although some pinot noir is also grown.

Question 32

Name the regional appellation of Maconnais, and which wines are grown.

Answer 32

Macon, red or white, with the whites showing a good balance of fresh apple or citrus fruit, medium acid and medium to full body. Sometimes a hint of creaminess from malolactic fermentation. The reds are fruity, light, good for early drinking.

Question 33

Describe what is meant by wines labelled Macon Villages or Macon followed by a village name.

Answer 33

White wines representing excellent value for money, similar to Macon white wines but may have more body, ripeness, and character. These wines can come from multiple villages if named villages. Lugny is a good example of a famous one.

Question 34

Name the two most famous village appellations in Macon.

Answer 34

Pouilly-Fuisse (premier crus) and Saint-Veran. Stone fruits, tropical notes, barrel aged to enhance texture and flavours. Planted on limestone slopes of Roche de Solutre, east and south-east exposure. Amphitheatre like slopes help produce some of the richest Chardonnays in Burgundy, often complemented by toasty oak flavours.

Question 35

Describe regional appellations in Burgundy.

Question 36

Describe commune (villages) appellations.

Question 37

Describe single vineyard appellations.

Answer 37

600 premier crus in total providing 1/10 of production; these wines must state premier crus on the label and if coming from a single vineyard, the vineyard name. Otherwise producers blend premier crus from multiple vineyard in one village in which case no vineyard name appears on the label. Grand crus account for just over 1% of production, 32 in Cote d'or and 1 in Chablis (divided into 7 delineated plots or climats). Only vineyard on label and must show grand cru somewhere on label.