terroir: the soul of la côte d’or, part 1

La Cote d’Or

Terroir, the Soul of Burgundy

Tasting “terroir” -- 9 Villages -- 9 Wines -- 4 Vintages -- 8 Producers

2000 years of wine production.

Generates $1.8 Billion annually.

Exports 50% of wine production.

A recognized role model for pinot noir and chardonnay wines.

3800 Wine Estates (Domaines)

250 Negociants

23 Cooperatives

101 Different Wine Appellations

Abbey of St-Benigne (587 AD)

Clos de Beze (630 AD)

Cluny (910 AD)

Citeaux (1098 AD)

Cultivation of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir

Quality delineation of the land

Burgundy

Pinot Fin cluster

The Soul of Burgundy

--an explanatory concept based upon accumulated observations.

1. Some vineyards consistently produce better wines than other vineyards.

2. Identifiable vineyard characteristics re-appear in the wine vintage after vintage.

HumanTerroirInfluence

Soil Climate Vineyard Winemaking

--represents a potential, rather than a guarantee,a promissory note, rather than a receipt.

--the aim of the Bourgogne vigneron is to attain the maximum expression of “terroir”.

--the vigneron’s credo: supportive yet respectful, sensitive yet guiding, vigilant ,but minimally interfering.

Grand Cru

Premier Cru

Village

Regional

2%2%

10%10%

36%36%

52%52%

Burgundy's finest soils were formed during the Jurassic period, 135-195 million years ago.

During this period, Burgundy was a shallow sea.

Temperatures were semi-tropical, similar to those of south Florida today.

The petrified remains of the multitude of shellfish and sea lilies created the limestone rock which are today the best of Burgundy's soils.

The sea finally withdrew from Burgundy 70 million years ago. Roughly 35 million years ago, the great Alpine upheaval occurred. This is when the Burgundy landscape as we know it was sculpted.

The Saône fault line, running from Dijon to Beaujolais, exposed many Jurassic strata along the resulting slopes.

Over the past 10,000 years, the weathering of these Jurassic limestone strata have created some of the world's greatest vineyards.

Calcaire a entroques: CdN bedrock (Bajocian)(Crinoidal Limestone)

Ostrea acuminata: CdN (Bajocian)

Premeaux Limestone: CdN bedrock (Bathonian)

White oolites: CdN (Bathonian) (calcium pellets)

Comblanchien limestone: CdN caprock (Bathonian)

Dalle nacree: CdB (Callovian) (Pearly flagstone)