White wines of Burgundy

Question 1

What is the acidity level of Chablis in Northern Burgundy?

Answer 1

High

Question 2

What winemaking techniques are associated with premium Chardonnay winemaking in Burgundy?

Answer 2

Barrel fermentation, barrel aging (6-9 months), MLF and use of lees.

Question 3

What other Burgundian white produces neutral whites with high acidity?

Answer 3

Aligote.

Question 4

What appellation lies in the valley of the river Serein?

Answer 4

Chablis.

Question 5

What are lesser vineyards in Chablis known as?

Answer 5

Petite chablis.

Question 6

What is the major climatic problem of Chablis?

Answer 6

frost. Sprinklers and heaters combat.

Question 7

What is the only grape permitted in Chablis?

Answer 7

Chardonnay.

Question 8

Differentiate between growing areas for basic Chablis and premier cru and grand cru vineyards?

Answer 8

Basic level chablis is grown on Northern facing flat land and premier and grand cru on southern facing hillsides giving them greater concentration and ripeness.

Question 9

Describe a petite chablis

Answer 9

Very austere with green fruit and high acidity.

Question 10

Describe flavors of a premier cru and grand cru chablis.

Answer 10

riper, more concentrated fruit (citrus rather than green apple) and have more body, but are still balanced by high acidity.

Question 11

What does aging a premier or grand cru in oak add?

Answer 11

rounder texture and subtle flavors

Question 12

What mountain range runs along the westside of the Cote d’Or?

Answer 12

Massif Central, providing favorable east and southeast facing hillside vineyards.

Question 13

What are the two areas of the Cote d’ Or.

Answer 13

Cote d’Nuits and Cote de Beaune. All of the white grand crus except one come from the Cote de Beaune.

Question 14

Name the key villages of the Cote de Nuits from North to South (with their most famous Grand Cru sites)

Answer 14

Gevrey-Chambertin (Chambertin, Chambertin Clos de Beze), Vougeot (Clos de Vougeot), Vosne-Romanee (Romanee-Conti, Ła Tache and La Romanée) and Nuits-Saint-Georges.

Question 15

Name the key villages of the Cote de Beaune and their grand Cru’s.

Answer 15

Aloxe-Corton (Corton, Corton-Charlemangne), Beaune, Pommard, Volnay, Mersault, Puligny-Montrachet (Montrachet), and Chassagne-Montrachet (Montrachet).
All except Pommard and Volnay produce both white and reds. Pommard and Volnay produce only reds.

Question 16

What three villages on the Cote de Beaune have the highest reputations for white wine?

Answer 16

Meursault, Puligny-Montrachet and Chassgagne-Montrachet. The last two share the grand cru Montrachet.

Question 17

Is a Cote de Nuits village wine red or white?

Answer 17

It can be either and does not qualify for one of the more famous appellations.

Question 18

Is a Cote de Beaune village a red or white?

Answer 18

Must be red.

Question 19

What distinguishes Bourgone Hautes Cotes de Nuits and Bourgone Hauts Cotes de Beaune?

Answer 19

They are to the west of and at a higher altitude with exposure to wind. This means they have slightly less body and concentration .

Question 20

What are the main grapes of the Cote de Chalonnaise?

Answer 20

Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. Due to the higher altitude the harvest is later and less reliable. And although on the hillside, their aspect is consistently towards the east. The wines are lighter and mature earlier. Therefore less prestigious than the Cote de’Or.

Question 21

What are the four villages in Cote Chalonnaise? What is each known for?

Answer 21

Rully - more white than red, and sparkling wines.
Mercury - highest reputation for reds.
Givry - smallest village with reds that are particularly admired.
Montagny - produces only white wines.

All have premier crus but no grand crus.

Question 22

What is the most widely planted grape of Maconnais?

Answer 22

Chardonnay. (reds tend to be made of Gamay)

Question 23

Describe a typical white from Macon?

Answer 23

Fresh apple or citrus fruit; medium acidity; medium to full body. Maybe a hint of creaminess from MLF. (the reds are light and fruity made for early drinking).

Question 24

What is a Macon Village wine?

Answer 24

Macon, followed by the name of a particular village. White wines that represent excellent value. Can come from any one, or several, or the villages. But have more ripeness, body and character.

Question 25

What are the two most famous village appellations from the Maconnais region?

Answer 25

Pouilly-Fuisse and Saint-Veran. They have both tropical and stone fruits and are barrel matured. The vines are planted on the limestone slopes of the Roche de Solutre with east and west exposures. The amphitheater like slopes capture the sunlight and produce some of the richest and ripest Chardonnays in Burgundy. Often have toasty oak flavors.

Question 26

What are the two generic appellations for Burgundy?

Answer 26

Bourgone Rouge and Bourgone Blanc. They can come from anywhere in Burgundy and usually made from Pinot Noir or Chardonnay.

Question 27

Name some Burgundy regional appellations that cover a more restricted area.

Answer 27

Bourgone Hautes Cotes de Nuits, Bourgone Hautes Cotes de Beaune, Bourgone Cote Chalonnaise. And in the Maconnais there are Macon for red and white, or Macon Villages for whites only.

Question 28

What is a Commune Appelation?

Answer 28

The next step in the hierarchy. E.g, Chablis or Gevrey-Chambertin. ⅓ of total production. Usually only the commune name is given. If it is not a premier cru or grand cru, the name of the vineyard may be added. “Village” is sometimes used instead of Commune.

Question 29

Wha is a single vineyard appellation?

Answer 29

Premier Cru or Grand Cru. Vineyards that have consistently made high quality wines.

Question 30

What is a single vineyard appellation called that has only one owner?

Answer 30

A monopole.

Question 31

How many premier crus are there in Burgundy?

Answer 31

Over 600 providing approximately 1/10th of the production. If the wine comes from a single vineyard the name of the vineyard appears on the label, unless blended from different vineyards, then no vineyard name is given.

Question 32

Grand Cru vineyards account for how much production in Burgundy?

Answer 32

1%. 33 in Cote d’Or and 1 in Chablis. Only the name of the vineyard appears on the label, plus grand cru.