Burgundy Flashcards
(32 cards)
Where is Burgundy?
France - Center of France
What is the historical background for Burgundy?
Influenced by Monastic Orders during the Middle Ages
Code Napoleon (1804)
* Inheritance Laws
* Fragmentation of vineyard ownership
* Thousands of tiny vineyard each with many owners
* Uneven range of quality
What are the main regions of Burgundy?
North to South
* Chablis - NorthWest, separate from rest of Burgundy
* Cote D’Or
* Cote Chalonnaise
* Maconnais
* Beaujolais
Burgundy Weather
Continental - Cold winters and hot summers
Frost can be an issue, particularly in Chablis
Burgundy Soil
Rolling hills, most of land was underwater
Most soil has a limestone base, density of soil affects root growth
Cote D’Or slope - best vineyards are on hillsides facing east/southeast
Burgundy Soil types
Burgundy - Chalk, Calcareous clay, marl and limestone
Beaujolais - Granite
White Grapes of Burgundy
Chardonnay (main)
Aligote (small plots)
Red grapes of Burgundy
Pinot Noir (Main)
Gamay (primarily Beaujolais)
Burgundy Labeling Laws & Classification
Top to Bottom
33 Grand Crus
550-600 Premier Crus
Village wines - 30%
Regional Appelations - 56%
What is a Domaine in Burgundy
Grower/Producer that own the vineyards from which they produce wine. Noted by the word “Domaine” with the producer name.
What is a Negociant in Burgundy
Merchants who buy grapes and/or finished wine for blending and bottling under their own label.
Burgundy - What is a Clos?
Plot of vineyard land traditionally surrounded by dry, stone walls
Burgundy - What is a Monopole?
Parcel of land with single ownership
Burgundy - what is a Cote
Hillside or slope
Burgundy - Chablis (location, soil, grapes)
80 miles north of Cote D’Or
Climate is continental, subject to late frosts
Solid is kimmeridgian clay / limestone
Grapes are 100% Chardonnay
Chablis - viticulture and vilification
Subject to late frosts
No oak on lower tier wines, possible oak use on upper tier wines
Malolactic fermentation
Burgundy - Cote D’Or (Golden Slope)
Burgundy - Cote de Nuits (climate, grapes, soil)
Continental climate
Grapes - Pinot Noir
Soil - limestone and marl
Cote de Nuits vinification
Use of French oak, often new
Cote de Nuits Village AOP (top tier)
Gevrey-Chambertin
Morey-St. Denis
Chambolle-Musigny
Vouget
Vosne-Romanee
Nuits-Saint-Georges
Cote de Baune (climate, soil, grapes)
Continental climate
Soil - limestone and marl
Grapes - Pinot Noir and some Chardonnay
New oak used on reds and whites
Cote Chalonnais (climate, soils, grapes)
South of Cote D’Or, continental climate
Grapes -Chardonnay, Aligote (small volume), Pinot Noir
Maconnais
South of Chalonnais, continental climate
Grapes -Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Gamay
Beaujolais (climate, soils, grapes)
South of Maconnais
Semi-continental climate
Soil is schist and granite
Grapes - Gamay, does well in granite
