23 Nov Please The Palate Pick of the Week: Bourgogne Wines for Thanksgiving
Some of the greatest wines in the world are from Burgundy (Bourgogne) in France. It is wine region that produces some of the worlds most legendary wines, as well as some of the most expensive wines. But the world of wines from Bourgogne is far more vast than the sought-after top producers. There are beautiful and affordable expressions of white and red Bourgogne wines that can be enjoyed anytime, especially with Thanksgiving dinner, and that is why Bourgogne Wines are the Please The Palate pick of the week.
Bourgogne (Burgundy) can seem intimidating. What is important to note is Bourgogne wine is influenced by its terroir and there is huge potential for exploration. Understanding just a few basics makes it that much easier to start picking out wines in a store or on a restaurant list and finding some great values!
Bourgogne is located in east-central France. The region of Burgundy is approximately 75 miles long and within the region, there are five distinct wine districts: Chablis and Auxerrois, Côte de Nuits, Côte de Beaune, Côte Chalonnaise and Maconnais.
Another important thing to know about wines from Bourgogne is that there are four classifications. At the very top is Grand Cru. There are 33 Grand Cru vineyards in Bourgogne, which account for only two percent of all vineyards. The next level is Premier Cru and only 11 percent of vineyards are classified as Premier Cru. Village Wines represent 50 percent of all Bourgogne wines. There are 44 Village AOCs and Village Wines are produced from grapes sourced from these vineyards. Regional Wines represent 48 percent of all wines produced in Bourgogne and there are a total of seven regional AOCs in Bourgogne. The seven regional appellations are Bourgogne, Bourgogne Aligoté, Crémant de Bourgogne, Coteax Bourguignons, Bourgogne Passe-Tout-Graines, Macon and Bourgogne Mousseux.
When looking for affordable Bourgogne wines, seek out Village Wines and Regional Wines.
A few wines to look out for that will be a perfect fit for the Thanksgiving table.
Crémant (Sparkling Wine):
- Vitteaut-Alberti Crémant de Bourgogne Cuvée Agnes, Blanc de Blancs, – 100% Chardonnay, 36 months on the lees, this wine has aromas of orchard fruit, golden apple and white flowers. On the palate it is chalky with high acidity.
- Louis Picamelot Crémant de Bourgogne Les Reipes, Blanc de Blancs 2014 – 100% Chardonnay, 36 months on the lees, this wine has aromas of citrus blossom, tangerine and toasted almond. On the palate, the wine has intense acidity and yet roundness on the mid-palate.
White Wine (Chardonnay):
- Domaine de la Jobeline Macon-Verzé, En Prévisy 2016 – This Chardonnay has a bright, sharp nose with citrus notes and a long finish.
- Domaine JL Et JC Bersan Bourgogne Cote d’Auxerre, Cuvée Louis Bersan 2015 – A barrel fermented Chardonnay, this wine has chalky, mineral notes and high acidity on the palate with a saline finish.This wine has a lot of texture and body.
Red Wine (Pinot Noir):
- Domaine Philippe Gavignet Bourgogne Hautes Cotes de Nuits, Clos Des Dames Huguettes 2016 – A ripe, tart cherry Pinot Noir with minerality and iron notes on the finish.
- Cave des Vignerons de Mancey Macon-Mancey, Les Essentielles 2016 – This Pinot Noir has an intense nose of wild strawberry, plum and porcini. On the palate, it has bright acidity that screams for food.