23 May Blurring Boundaries: Examining the Links between Burgundy and the New World

For more than 20 years, the annual World of Pinot Noir event in Santa Barbara has gathered Pinot Noir winemakers from around the globe to celebrate the beloved grape with its fans. The passion for Pinot Noir is due to its elegance, versatility, and food-friendliness as well as its ability to express terroir. Whether it is from France, Santa Barbara, Sonoma, Carneros, Mendocino, New Zealand, Australia, or other places, Pinot Noir expresses where it is from. In its birthplace of Burgundy, Pinot Noir has a 1,000-year-long history. The cool-climate French region with limestone soils has set the bar for the grape. When New World producers first started making Pinot Noir, they looked to Burgundy as their inspiration. Today, regions like Central Otago, the Willamette Valley, and Sonoma County have developed their own identity and style. However, there is still a connection between the Old World and the New, as six Pinot Noir producers showed attendees during a seminar at World of Pinot Noir in March, moderated by David Glancy of the San Francisco Wine School. I wrote about the connection between the Old World and the New World for the May/June 2023 Issue of The Tasting Panel Magazine. Paul Pujol of Prophet’s Rock in Central Otago, New Zealand talked about his connection with François Millet and we tasted the François Millet et Fils 2018 Chambolle-Musigny, Les Fouchères  and the Prophet’s Rock 2019 Cuvée Aux Antipodes, Central Otago. Jay Boberg of Nicolas-Jay in Willamette Valley, Oregon shared his connection with Jean-Nicolas Méo and we tasted the Domaine Mèo-Camuzet 2020 Clos de Vougeot, Grand Cru and the Nicolas-Jay 2019 L’Ensemble, Willamette Valley . Ian Burch of Archery Summit in Willamette Valley, Oregon shared his connection with Dominique Lafon and we tasted the Domaine des Comtes Lafon 2019 Volnay-Santenots du Milieu, 1er Cru and the Archery Summit 2018 Arcus, Dundee Hills, Willamette Valley. Guillaume Large of Resonance in Willamette Valley discussed his connection with Jacques Lardière and we tasted the Louis Jadot Domaine des Héritiers 2017 Beaune, Clos des Ursules, 1er Cru and the Résonance 2017 Estate Vineyard, Yamhill-Carlton, Willamette Valley. Jeff Mangahas of Willams Selyem in Russian River Valley, Sonoma, California told us about his connection with the Faiveley Family and we tasted the Faiveley 2017 Gevrey-Chambertin “Vielles Vignes” and the Williams Selyem 2014 Allen Vineyard, Russian River Valley. Clare Tooley, MW, the VP of Guest Experience at Boisset Collection discussed the Boisset family’s wineries in both France and California and we tasted the Domaine de la Vougeraie 2018 Clos de Vougeot Grand Cru and the DeLoach 2018 Estate, Russian River Valley Read about this interesting seminar in the May/June 2023 Issue of The Tasting Panel Magazine.