Burgundy Flashcards
(48 cards)
What are the Chablis Grand Crus? List west to east.
Bougros Preuses Vaudésir Grenouilles Valmur Les Clos Blanchots
What are Burgundy’s main regions, north to south?
Chablis, Cote d’Or (Cote de Nuits, Cotes de Beaune), Cote Chalonnaise, Maconnais, Beaujolais
What are the 4 tiers of hierarchy in Burgundy?
- Regional (50% of production)
- Village
- 1er Cru (legally defined geographic designations for Village wines)
- Grand Cru (less than 2%)
In what non-Beaujolais AOP is varietal Gamay allowed?
Coteaux Bourguignons AOP
What is unusual about the Passe-Tout-Grains AOP?
This is a “field blend” of gamay and pinot noir, co-planted and co-fermented together. Must be at least 1/3 Pinot and no more than 2/3 Gamay
What are the two methods of sparkling wine in Burgundy and how do they differ?
- Crémant de Bourgogne makes both sparkling white and rose via traditional method since 1975 and, while it may be made throughout the region, production is concentrated to Rully & Chalonnaise, where Burgundy sparkling was borm
- Bourgogne Mousseaux makes sparkling reds via traditional method since the 1820s, concentrated in Yonne, Cote d’Or, Saone-et-Loire, Rhone
Describe the practical differences between 1er and Grand Crus in Burgundy
1er Crus are technically geographic designations, meaning fruit from different parcels within the same village are used and still called 1er Cru
Grand Crus are all single vineyard, independent of village and must be hand-harvested
What is the smallest AOP in France?
La Romanée
What is the largest AOP in Côte d’Or?
Corton AOP
Within what river valley is Chablis located?
Serein River Valley
Describe the soil type in Chablis
Kimmeridgian Marl: limestone, clay, oyster fossils found in hillsides around Chablis
Portlandian limestone: found on elevated plateaus around hillside, where Petit Chablis comes from (cooler and more wind-exposed)
How many 1er cru designations are there in Chablis? How many are considered “major”?
40;17
What are the top Chablis 1er Crus on the right bank? Left bank?
Right: Montée de Tonnerre & Fourchaume
Left: Vaillons & Montmains
Which direction do Chablis’ Grand Cru sites face?
They are located on southeast facing slopes
Describe the benchmark style of Chablis
Pronounced acidity, medium weight, lees character, intense minerality, steely character, no new oak. “Hazelnuts, oyster shells, lemon” (New oak is sometimes used at GC level)
What is the red wine AOP in Burgundy?
Irancy AOP
What is the Sauvignon Blanc appellation in Burgundy?
St-Bris AOP
Where is Côte d’Or located? How are the vineyards situated? What is the soil type?
Western edge of low Saône River Plane; vineyards are situated along the eastern slopes of a series of hills rising 400-500m; Limestone and clay soils
What are the Combes? What is their significance?
Dry, transverse valleys carved during the last ice age and serving as conduits for cool breezes and hailstorms. Ancient erosion made deep alluvial pebbles and stones at mouth of Combes, which diversifies soil makeup and plays a large role in complexity of Côte d’Or’s terroir.
Name the following differences between Côte de Nuits and Côte de Beaune:
- Slope facing direction
- Vineyard space
- Soil type
- Steepness of hillsides
- Wine production
Côte de Nuits; Côte de Beaune
1. due east; southeast
2. less vineyard space (narrower strip of vineyards/no side valleys); twice as much land under vine (wider strip of vineyards, available side valleys)
3. limestone; marl w/less limestone
4. steeper hillsides; less steep hillsides
5. red wine; white wine
Beaune reds are generally lighter in style despite its southerly location and slightly warmer mesoclimate
What is the impact of bâtonnage on white wines during élévage?
Frequent stirring is an oxidative procedure that can round out young wines, but not necessary for wines destined to be aged.
What are the three biggest factors for style in Burgundy:
- Use of new oak
- Whole cluster or destemming
- Frequency of lees stirring for whites
List Côte de Nuits village appellations from north to south:
- Marsannay
- Fixin
- Gevrey-Chambertin
- Morey-St-Denis
- Chambolle-Musigny
- Vougeot
- Vosne-Romanée
- Nuits-St-Georges
Which Côte de Nuits village appellations also produce AOP white wines?
Marsannay Fixin Morey-St-Denis Vougeot Nuits-St-Geroges
