Burgundy (R) Flashcards
(107 cards)
What characterizes Burgundy’s historical background?
Complex land ownership
What are the historical beginnings of Burgundy?
- Middle Ages: Land owned by Catholic Church’s Benedictine and then Cistercian Monasteries - Cistercian Monks from the abbey of Citeaux painstakingly studied the vineyards - Identified tiny parcels that yielded superior results - Named and classified wines by their terroir
What caused Burgundy’s complex land ownership?
- French Revolution - Vineyards taken away from church and aristocracy - Larger pieces broken up and sold - 1804 - Napoleon’s “Code of Inheritance” - Required equal division of estates among heirs - Example: Clos Vougeot 125 acres once managed by Cistercian monks, now 80 different plots and owers
Where is Burgundy located?
Eastern / Central France near the border with Switzerland
Five sub-regions of Burgundy?
- Chablis 2. Cote d’Or - Cote de Nuits - Cote de Beaune 3. Cote Chalonnaise 4. Maconnais 5. Beaujolais
Burgundy’s climate?
Continental
Burgundy’s topography/aspect?
- Rolling Hills - Cote d’Or slope (best vineyards are on hillsides facing east/southeast)
What soils characterize Burgundy?
- Chalk 2. Calcareous Clay 3. Marl 4. Limestone 5. Granite (in Beaujolais)
What grape varieties are grown in Burgundy?
- Chardonnay - Aligote - Pinot Noir - Gamay
How many Grand Cru AOP’s are in Burgundy?
33
Define Domaine.
Growers/producers that own the vineyards they are producing wine from.
__________ are wine merchants who buy grapes and/or finished wines for blending and bottling under their own labels.
Negociants
What does the word Clos mean?
Plot of vineyard land traditionally surrounded with dry-stone walls. (Clos Vougeot)
What is a Monopole?
Parcel of land with single ownership
What characterizes a village wine and its labeling?
- Often village name appended by most famous vineyard name (Gevrey-Chambertin) - 100% of the grapes are grown in and around the named village
What characterizes a 1er Cru wine and its labeling?
- Village, name of specific vineyard, and “Premier Cru” or “1er Cru” all on label - 100% of grapes come from specific named vineyard
What characterizes a Grand Cru wine and its labeling?
- No village name on the label, only the name of the vineyard (ie. Chambertin) - 100% of the grapes come from one of the very best vineyards in Burgundy
Where is Chablis located?
- 80 miles north of the Cote d’Or (its actually closer to Champagne than the rest of Burgundy)
Climate in Chablis?
Cool Continental
Soil in Chablis?
Kimmeridgian clay / Limestone
Grape varieties in Chablis?
100% Chardonnay
What characterizes viticultural practices in Chablis?
Picking time is critical because of late season frosts
What characterizes vinification practices in Chablis?
- No oak used with lower-tier wines - But frequent in upper-tier wines - Malolactic Fermentation is common
What is the appellation hierarchy in Chablis?
- Chablis AOP 2. Petit Chablis AOP 3. Chablis Premier Cru AOP (40) 4. Chablis Grand Cru AOP (1/33)