Burgundy is the heart and home of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, and is one of the most renowned wine producing regions in the world. There’s nothing quite like it. Unlike Bordeaux, Burgundy is all about single vineyards and single grape varietals. Terroir is essential to this region. If you’re looking for nuanced, refined, complex and fresh Pinot and Chardonnay wines, you have found your spot!
While many wines from Burgundy can be outrageously expensive and out of reach for the majority of wine lovers, 90+ Cellars has some very accessible options that don’t skimp on quality. Read on for some background on this famous region and a few of my favorite Burgundy wines in our collection.
Understanding Burgundy
Once covered by the sea, Burgundy’s limestone soils are perfect for growing some of the world’s most delectable Pinot Noir and Chardonnay grapes. If you look closely you may even find some fossilized sea creatures. This unique, ancient soil has a direct impact on the uniqueness of the wines you’ll find here.
Vineyards here are generally family-owned and have been passed down through generations. The overall vineyard area of Burgundy is quite small in comparison to other wine growing regions. Despite its overwhelming popularity, Burgundy’s vines make up just 3% in regards to France’s total vineyards. In fact, it is three times smaller than Bordeaux! This is just one of the many reasons for the typically high price tags associated with the wines from this region.
The vineyard locations in Burgundy are one of the most important factors when talking about these sought after wines. The majority of high quality wines come from low-yield vines planted on slopes. Premier and Grand Cru wines, specifically, can be found mid-slope. It is here that the vines receive the ample sunshine needed to ripen perfectly. Soil drainage is also superior mid-slope compared with the valley floor. All of these factors help create wines with complexity and elegance.
Our Burgundy Wines
If you’re a Pinot Noir lover, our Lot 160 Bourgogne Rouge is a must try! The particularly thin-skinned Pinot Noir loves the warm days and cool nights that Burgundy has to offer. Produced by a fifth generation vigneron, this red Burgundy wine is made from grapes grown entirely in the Côte-d’Or (the heart of Burgundy), making this one stellar value.
This wine explodes with bright cherry fruit, hints of red plums and a beautiful bouquet of violets. Lot 160 Bourgogne Pinot Noir is an elegant red that is deliciously drinkable now, especially with a slight chill.
For our white wine lovers, Lot 217 Chablis is what you need in your glass! Chablis is the northernmost region of Burgundy, producing Chardonnay wines that have a unique steely quality and minerality like no other. Lot 217 is the essence of this great region— unoaked, fresh, and fantastic. It’s Chardonnay as it should be! The perfect recommendation for those of you who love clean, racy Chardonnay wines, and even for your friends who “don’t drink Chardonnay.”
While Burgundy may be known primarily for Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, there is another white wine of note made from the native Aligoté grape. One of my personal favorites, Lot 167 Bourgogne Aligoté comes from 100% estate grown fruit. This hidden gem has slightly riper fruit flavors than you’ll find from Chablis, but all the beloved freshness you’d expect from whites in the region. Notes of ripe nectarines and peaches with a mouthwatering acidity make this the ultimate quaffable white wine. This is my go-to summer white.
Whether you’re serving these wines alongside appetizers and friends or looking for something to pair with a fabulous meal, these Burgundian beauties won’t disappoint. Santé!
This article was written by 90+ Cellars International Wine Buyer, Alex Shaughnessy.