Bourgogne (Burgundy)
Bourgogne is one of the most famous and historically significant wine regions in the world. With a semi-continental climate it is the perfect place to cultivate Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.
The vineyards are classified into 6 sub-regions, each with its own distinct characteristics and appellations:
- Chablis
- Côte d'Or
- Côte de Nuits
- Côte de Beaune
- Côte Chalonnaise
- Mâconnais
Chablis
Chablis in the north is known exclusively for Chablis, a crisp, mineral-driven, white wine from Chardonnay grapes.
Côte d'Or
Côte d'Or, the crown of Bourgogne, is divided into two main sections:
- Côte de Nuits
- Côte de Beaune
Côte de Nuits
Côte de Nuits, in the northern half of Côte d'Or is called the jewel in the Burgundian crown. It is famous for producing some of the world's finest and most expensive Pinot Noirs.
Côte de Beaune
Côte de Beaune, in the southern half of Côte d'Or, is most famous for its full-bodied Chardonnay wines, including those from Grand Cru vineyards like Montrachet.
Côte Chalonnaise
Côte Chalonnaise, located South of Côte d'Or, produces both red and white wines. It is less famous than its northern neighbors, but the Pinot Noir and Chardonnay wines from here offer good value.
Mâconnais
Mâconnais in the south, has a warmer climate and produces ripe and rich Chardonnay wines, with Pouilly-Fuissé as the most recognized appellation, offering excellent value, with a fruitier style compared to the more mineral-driven wines of the north.
Burgundy Classifications
Burgundy has a higher number of AOCs (Appellations d'Origine Contrôlée) than any other French region, and is considered the most terroir-conscious region in France.
Burgundy wines are classified in 4 main levels, from low to highest:
| 54% Regional | Wine made from grapes grown in one of the Burgundy regions |
| 35% Village | Wine made from grapes grown in a Burgundy village |
| 10% Premier Cru | Wine made from a single vineyard in a village |
| 1% Grand Cru | Wine made from an elite vineyard in a village |
The classification system reflects the hierarchy of the quality of the vineyards based on the terroir concept, with Grand Cru vineyards considered to offer the ultimate expression of Burgundy's diverse soils and microclimates.
Regional AOC Classifications
| Name | Description | Grape(s) |
|---|---|---|
| Bourgogne Rouge (AOC 1937) | Red wine from anywhere in Bourgogne | Pinot Noir |
| Bourgogne Blanc (AOC 1937) | White wine from anywhere in Bourgogne | Chardonnay |
| Bourgogne Rosé (AOC 1943) | Rosé wine from anywhere in Bourgogne | Pinot Noir Pinot Gris |
| Bourgogne Aligoté (AOC 1937) | White wines from the Aligoté grape from anywhere in Bourgogne | Aligoté |
| Bourgogne Passe-Tout-Grains (AOC 1937) | Red and Rose wines from anywhere in Bourgogne | 1/3 Pinot Noir 2/3 Gamay |
| Côte d'Or (AOC 2017) | Wines from Côte de Nuits and Côte de Beaune | Chardonnay Pinot Noir |
| Côte de Nuits (AOC 1961) | Wines from Côte de Nuits in Côte d'Or | Pinot Noir |
| Côte de Beaune (AOC 1961) | Wines from Côte de Beaune in Côte d'Or | Chardonnay |
| Côte Chalonnaise (AOC 1998) | Wines from Côte Chalonnaise | Chardonnay Pinot Noir Aligoté |
| Mâcon (AOC 1937) | Wines from Mâconnais | Chardonnay Pinot Noir, Gamay |
| Mâcon Villages (AOC 1937) | White wines from Mâconnais | Chardonnay |
| Crémant de Bougogne (AOC 1975) | Traditional method sparkling wines made anywhere in Bourgogne | Chardonnay, Pinot Noir Gamay, Aligoté, Melon |
Côte de Nuits
Famous Côte de Nuits Villages
(From North to South)
| Name | Description |
|---|---|
| Fixin | Pinot Noir. Oaked, tannic, blackcurrant and black cherry. |
| Gevrey-Chambertin | 9 Crand Crus: Chambertin. Chambertin-Clos de Bèze. Griottes-Chambertin. Latricières-Chambertin.
Ruchottes-Chambertin. Charmes-Chambertin. Mazis-Chambertin. Mazoyères-Chambertin. Chapelle-Chambertin. Pinot Noir. Deeply colored. Full-bodied and robust. Strawberry. Red Cherry. Violet. Rose. |
| Morey-Saint-Denis | 5 Grand Crus: Bonnes-Mares. Clos de la Roche. Clos de Tart. Clos des Lambrays. Clos Saint Denis. Pinot Noir. Structured and balanced. Blackberry. Blackcurrant. Black Cherry. With age: Animal notes. Undergrowth. Leather. Truffle. |
| Chambolle-Musigny | 2 Grand Crus: Bonnes-Mares. Musigny Famous for elegant, refined Pinot Noir. |
| Vougeot | 1 Grand Cru: Clos de Vougeot. Pinot Noir. A Grand Cru famous for producing robust wines. |
| Flagey-Echézeaux | 1 Grand Cru: Grands Échezeaux. Pinot Noir. |
| Vosne-Romanée | 6 Grand Crus: Romanée-Conti, La Romanée. La Tache. Richebourg. Romanée Saint-Vivant.
La Grande Rue. Pinot Noir par excellence. Wines from Romanée-Conti are among the most expensive in the world. In October 2010, 77 bottles were sold for $750,609 (about $9,748 each). |
| Nuits-St-Georges | Powerful and structured wines that gives Côte de Nuits the reputation of producing full-bodied Pinot Noirs. |
Côte de Beaune
Famous Côte de Beaune Villages
(From North to South)
| Name | Description |
|---|---|
| Pernand-Vergelesses | 2 Grand Crus: Corton. Charlemagne. |
| Ladoix-Serrigny | 2 Grand Crus: Corton. Corton-Charlemagne. |
| Aloxe-Corton | 2 Grand Crus: Corton. Corton-Charlemagne. Corton produces both red and white wines, but is best known for powerfull and complex Pinot Noir. Corton-Charlemagne is considered to be amongst the finest Chardonnays. |
| Puligny-Montrachet | 4 Grand Crus: Montrachet. Bâtard-Montrachet. Bienvenues-Bâtard-Montrachet. Chevalier-Montrachet. Chardonnay. Mineral, elegant and focused. Blossoms. Hazelnut. Green Apple. What many consider the greatest Chardonnay wines in the world. |
| Chassagne-Montrachet | 2 Grand Crus: Montrachet. Criots-Bâtard-Montrachet. Bold and intense Chardonnay. One of the world's great Chardonnays. Aromas of Honeysuckle and Hazelnut with a citrus acidity and a deep, gun-flint minerality. Notes of Honey and Pear. |
| Meursault | No Grand Crus. 19 Cimats classified as Premier Cru. Famous for rich, full-bodied Chardonnays, often with buttery and nutty characteristics. |
| Pommard | No Grand Crus 28 Cimats classified as Premier Cru. Full-bodied Pinot Noir wines with depth and structure. Berry fruit supported by cherry pit and plum. |
| Volney | No Grand Crus. 29 Cimats classified as Premier Cru. Volnay is known for finesse combined with aromatic and intense fruitiness. |
| Satenay | No Grand Crus. 12 Cimats classified as Premier Cru. Pinot Noir. Black Cherry and red fruit. Intense and deep but with discreet tannins and body. |
Côte Chalonnaise
Côte Chalonnaise is situated south of Côte de Beaune. It has 4 main village appellations:
Mercurey (1936) is best known for known for red wines from the Pinot Noir grape.
32 Cimats classified as Premier Cru.
Rully (1939) produces both red and white wines, with a notable production of sparkling wines.
23 Cimats classified as Premier Cru.
Givry (1946) is best known for its fruit-forward red wines made from Pinot Noir.
38 Cimats classified as Premier Cru.
Montagny (1936) is dedicated exclusively Chardonnay production.
29 Cimats classified as Premier Cru.
The Mâconnais Region
Mâconnais in the south, has a warmer climate and produces riper and richer Chardonnay wines.
Mâcon AOC (1937) covers red and white wines from Mâconnais.
Red wines tends to be Gamay, but Chardonnay covers over 80% of the plantings.
Mâcon Villages AOC (1937) covers white wines from Mâconnais:
Pouilly-Fuissé (1936)
Pouilly-Fuissé is the most recognized appellation, offering excellent value with a fruitier style compared to the more mineral-driven wines of the north. Vineyards within Pouilly-Fuissé include the famous climats of Pouilly, Fuissé, Solutré-Pouilly, and Vergisson.
Saint-Véran (1971)
The Saint-Véran appellation is split in two by the Pouilly-Fuissé appelation. It produces high-quality Chardonnay wines characterized by freshness, elegance and vibrant fruit flavors.
Pouilly-Loché (1940), Pouilly-Vinzelles (1940), Viré-Clessé (1999)
These applications produce Chardonnay wines known for their balance of richness, minerality and fruit flavors.
About Bourgogne
The complexity of Burgundy lies not just in its geography and classifications but also in its terroir-driven approach to winemaking, emphasizing the importance of soil, climate, and tradition in creating wines that are expressions of their specific place.
This, combined with the region's long history and the reputation of its producers, makes Burgundy wines highly sought after by collectors and wine enthusiasts around the world.
Picture: Looking down the vines of Chevalier-Montrachet with Montrachet below and Batard-Montrachet just beyond. The village of Puligny-Montrachet is in the distance.
Bourgogne Climats
Climats are the ultimate expression of Bourgogne terroir.
A Climat is the name of an elite vineyard and its importance lies in the consistency of the quality.
A Climat benefits of special weather, exposure, orientation, altitude, human expertise (savoir-faire), history, tradition, archeology, geology, oenology, viticulture, toponimy, hydrometry, biodiversity.
Each of the 1200 Climats (684 Premiers Crus) is vinified separately.
A Climat classified as Premier Cru (literally, first growth) has higher status than a Village or a Region and has a unique, recognizable taste.
Two millenia after the first vines were planted, the Climats of the Burgundy were registered as a UNESCO heritage site on July 4, 2015.
The Chablis Grand Cru appellation comprises seven Climats: Blanchot, Bougros, Les Clos, Grenouilles, Preuses, Valmur, and Vaudésir.
Bourgogne Clos
A clos is a vineyard enclosed by dry-stone walls.
These walls, built in the Middle Ages, protected the vines from the herds of animals which used to pass freely through the villages.
Some clos are among the most reputed Climats such as Clos de Vougeot, Clos de Bèze, and Clos des Lambrays.
Bourgogne Lieu-dit
A Lieu-dit is a topographical or historical name created by the Land Registry of France.
Lieu-dit and Climat are two terms often confused even in Burgundy.
The main difference is that a Climat is a vineyard while a Lieu-dit is a geographical area (with or without vines).
You can find a few "Lieux-dits" within one "Climat" and a "Climat" covering only a part of a "Lieu-dit".
Famous Burgundy Producers
Domaine Henri Jayer
One of the world's most prized winemakers. Famous for its silky and seductive Pinot Noirs.
These the wines are some of the most wanted bottles in the world.
Domaine de la Romanée-Conti (DRC)
One of the finest wine producers in the world.
The vineyards around the village Vosne-Romanée include some of the most sought-after Grand Crus in Burgundy.
Once owned by Prince Louis François, cousin of King Louis XV of France, each grand cru vineyards represent an iconic climat.
DRC has 9 Grand Crus: Richebourg, Romanée Saint Vivant, Echezeaux, Grands Echezeaux, La Tâche, Romanée Conti, Montrachet, corton, Corton-Charlemagne.
Domaine Comte Georges de Vogüé
Comte Georges de Vogüé has 2 Grand Crus: Le Musigny and Bonnes-Mares.
Domaine Ramonet
Of the finest producers in Côte de Beaune and best known for incredible Premiers and Grands Crus Chardonnays.
Domaine Ramonet has 4 Grand Crus: Montrachet, Chevalier-Montrachet, Bâtard-Montrachet and Bienvenues-Bâtard-Montrachet.
Domaine Georges Roumier
Based in the Côte de Nuits village of Chambolle-Musigny, Domaine Georges Roumier produces some of
Burgundy’s most wanted wines.
4 Grand Crus: Bonnes Mares Grand Cru, Musigny Grand Cru, Corton Charlemagne Grand Cru, Charmes Chambertin Grand Cru,
Ruchottes Chambertin Grand Cru.
4 Premier Crus: Morey St Denis 1er cru "Clos de La Bussière", Chambolle Musigny 1er cru "Les Cras",
Chambolle Musigny 1er cru "Les Amoureuses", Chambolle Musigny 1er cru "Combottes"
Bourgogne (Burgundy)
Black Grapes
34% Pinot Noir |
White Grapes
50% Chardonnay |
Red Wines 30%
Sparkling 10% |
White Wines 60%
Chardonnay |
Soil
Limestone and Clay |
Climate
Semi-continental |