Wine tasting tours can spark romance in Lakewood Ranch. Last week we began a two-column series on the subject of wines that are suitable for enjoyment on Valentine’s Day. Since the day is, by far, the busiest day of the year for virtually every fine dining restaurant, with an abundance of associated wine consumption, a second discussion on the subject seems appropriate.
When it comes to wine and romance there is simply no debating that France is the center of the universe. While the French may not be known as prolific warriors, or cooperative allies, they clearly have the edge in the arena of love. On top of that, France is the undisputed “Granddaddy of them all” when it comes to wine. And so on this occasion, and in consideration of these details, we really must acknowledge the superiority (my goodness, did I really use that word) of the French.
Last week we focused on the romantic red wines (white wine may be sophisticated but never romantic) of the Rhône Region. This week we change direction and travel due north to the Burgundy Region, the home of the world’s finest Pinot Noir.
The Bourgogne wine region produces a legion of famous red wines, virtually all of which are made from the Pinot Noir grape. Burgundy has a higher number of Appellation d’origine contrôlées (AOCs) than any other French region, and is often seen as the most terroir-conscious of the French wine regions.
The various Burgundy AOCs are classified from carefully delineated Grand Cru vineyards down to more non-specific regional appellations. The practice of delineating vineyards by their terroir in Burgundy goes back to Medieval times, when various monasteries played a key role in developing the Burgundy wine industry.
In Burgundy enormous attention is paid to the area of origin. As opposed to Bordeaux, where classifications are producer-driven and awarded to individual chateaux, Burgundy classifications are geographically-focused.
A specific vineyard or region will bear a given classification, regardless of the wine’s producer. This focus is reflected on the wine’s labels where appellations are most prominent and producer’s names often appear at the bottom in much smaller text.
The chief Burgundy classifications, in descending order of quality, are: Grand Cru and Premier, Village appellations, and finally Regional appellations:
Grand Cru wines are produced from the small number of sites in the Côte d’Or. Grand Cru wines make up 2% of the production and are generally produced in a style meant for cellaring, requiring aging of 5-7 years.
Premier Cru wines are produced from specific vineyard sites that are still considered to be of high quality, but not as well regarded as the Grand Cru sites. These wines often should be aged 3-5 years, and are labeled with the name of the village of origin, the Premier cru status, and usually the vineyard name. Some Premier Cru wines are produced from several Premier Cru vineyards in the same village, and do not carry the name of an individual vineyard.
Village appellation wines are produced from a blend of wines from supposedly lesser vineyard, or from one individual but non-classified vineyard.
Regional appellation wines are wines which are allowed to produce over the entire region or over an area significantly larger than that of an individual village.
AOC Bourgogne, the standard or “generic” appellation for red wines made anywhere throughout the region, and represent simpler wines which are still similar to the Village.
Sub regional (sous-régional) appellations cover a part of Burgundy larger than a village. Examples are Bourgogne Hautes-Côtes de Beaune, Bourgogne Hautes-Côtes de Nuits and Mâcon-Villages. This level is sometimes described as intermediate between AOC Bourgogne and the Village level.
Wines of specific styles or other grape varieties including Bourgogne Passe-Tout-Grains (which can contain up to two thirds Gamay).
Burgundy is home to the most expensive wines in the world, including those of Domaine de la Romanée-Conti, Domaine Leroy, Henri Javer, Emmanual Rouget, Domaine Dugat-Py, Domaine Leflaive and Domaine Armand Rousseau. While some top vintage first-growth Bordeaux wines and a few iconic wines from the New World may occasionally be more expensive than some Grand Cru class Burgundies, on the whole the Burgundies dominate.
The British wine critic Jancis Robinson emphasizes that “price is an extremely unreliable guide” and that “what a wine sells for often has more to do with advertising hype and marketing decisions than the quality contained in the bottle.” While Grand Crus often command steep prices, Village level wines from top producers can be found at quite reasonable prices.
Bourgogne Rouge is considered to be the most complex and most seductive of all wine. Most offer an array of heavily nuanced flavors ranging from fruity aromas of red currant, raspberry, red and black cherry, red and black berries and hints of vanilla. The flavor profiles include descriptions that include an array of red and black fruits balanced perfectly by elements of mushroom, minerality, earth and spice.
The wonder of great Burgundy is that never smacks you in the face. It chooses instead to provide a wide variety of complexity, subtle and sophistication. It whispers to you and tickles a variety of areas of the palate. A great Burgundy can offer you something unique with every new sip, caressing the palate with satin-like tannins, generous in every way and yet flirtatious and mysterious.
Burgundy pairs well with an enormous array of dishes from beef to chicken and seafood, making it a wonderfully convenient choice for the beginning wine buyer.
We hope we’ve awakened and excited your romantic wine fantasies. May you and the one you love enjoy the day, the new year, and a wonderful glass or two of the world’s most romantic wine.
Remember to make wine an important part of your Valentine’s Day, and everyday.
Ciao Baby!