Yesterday we attended a Burgundy Wines Masterclass by Discover the Origin and hosted by Jane Parkinson.
Discover the Origin is an established campaign designed to raise awareness about the following:
- Bourgogne Wines
- Parma Ham
- Douro Wines
- Parmigiano Reggiano Cheese
This is a pretty interesting mix and we were fortunate to experience a very special didactic wine tasting of some of Burgundy’s leading wines.
What you need to know about Burgundy
Bourgogne Vineyards stretch from Chablis in the North to Macon in the South and cover Chablis, the Grand Auxerrois and the Chatillonnais, Cote de Nuits, Cote de Beaune, Cote Chalonnaise and the Mâconnais.
The region has over 27,900 hectares classified Appellation d’Origine Contrôlée. They consist 3% of the totoal area of French wineries.
There are over 3,800 Wine Domaines in Burgundy, 1,300 of these are bottling wine, 250 negociants and 23 Caves Co-operatives.
For more information about Burgundy, its climate and terroir, see our Regional Travel Guide.
The Speaker: Jane Parkinson
Jane Parkinson is part of The Wine Gang, one of the most respected and recognised wine authorities in the UK.
The Tasting:
Crémant de Bourgogne, Terroir de Chazot, Blanc de Noirs, Maison Louis Picamelot
4 White Wines:
Saint-Véran, La Cote Rôtie, 2011 Domaine de Deux Roches
Chablis 1er Cru, Montée de Tonnerre, 2011, La Chablisienne
Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru, La Garenne, 2011, Maison Michel Picard, Corton Charlemagne, Domaine Rapet Pere & Fils
Here we noticed that despite being young, the wines are well balanced, portraying the expected undertones of lamb fat, rich mushroom and limestone. Most of these producers are practicing biodynamism – although not certified yet.
4 Red Wines:
Givry, Les Dracys, 2012, Domaine Michel Sarrazin & Fils
Volnay 1er Cru, Clos de Chênes, 2012, Domaine René Monnier
Nuits Saint-Georges, Les Lavieres, 2011, Domaine Daniel Rion & Fils
Clos de le Roche, 2011, Maison Boisset
When it came to the red wines, we almost felt guilty for drinking them so young. They were so delightful nonetheless. The Volnay was feminine and light, whilst the Givry was rich in violets, red cherry and one of the most affordable and best value for money Pinot Noirs we have come across (15EUR).
Clos de la Roche was naturally the favourite. With solely 900 bottles being produced in this vintage, at 75EUR per bottle, it’s a great wine to add to your collection and drink in a few years.
For more information on Burgundy, contact us on info@winerist.com. Also, please see out Burgundy Hotels Collection as well as Wine & Food Tours in the Region.
