The southern part of the “Golden Hill”

The southern part of Burgundy can safely be considered the “heart” of winemaking in the entire region. And not only because the unofficial wine capital – Bonn – is located here, but also because of the famous names of different styles of wine, both white and red. This is different from the northern part of the region, whose reputation is built mainly on red wines from Pinot Noir grapes.

Hautes Cote De Beaune

The vineyards of the Côte de Beaune stretch 20 kilometers from north to south – between Ladoise-Serigny and the Marange slope. The region’s vine plantations in some places here do not even exceed a few hundred meters in width. The famous wines are produced around the historic city center of Beaune, which is worth a visit for all Burgundy wine lovers to get to know the history of the region at the museum Hospices de Beaune, while specialized literature on the subject of wine can be browsed and bought in the bookstore opposite and, of course, this city is a must-visit , to taste and buy local wines in a shop, restaurant or bar in the wine capital.

A little west of the Côte de Beaune, the vines grow on a plateau 400 meters above sea level. It is the Hautes Côte de Beaune, famous for its juicy and affordable wines from the southern slopes.

The sunny hills of Côte de Beaune are planted with both white and red grape varieties. Closer to Beaune, Pinot Noir is mostly found, but from Meursault onwards, the white variety Chardonnay dominates, producing famous white wines of various styles, from legendary names such as Bâtard-Montrachet to lesser-known treasures – St. Aubin and Santenay.

This part of Burgundy produces regional wines – Aloxe-Corton, Auxey-Duresses, Beaune, Blagny, Chassagne-Montrachet, Chorey-les-Beaune, Côte de Beaune, Côte de Beaune-Village, Ladoix, Maranges, Meursault, Monthélie, Pernand- Vergelesses, Pommard, Puligny-Montrachet, Saint-Aubin, Saint-Romain, Santenay, Savigny-lès-Beaune, Volnay. Some of them boast their wonderful vineyards classified as Premier Cru, and a few even with the highest – Grand Cru – class: Corton, Corton-Charlemagne, Montrachet, Bâtard-Montrachet, Chevalier-Montrachet, Criots-Bâtard-Montrachet , Bienvenue-Bâtard-Montrachet.

Cote De Beaune

To remember the names of these five mighty vineyards, the winemakers jokingly tell a little tale, which is partly intertwined with the history of these lands. It sounds like this:

 


A gentleman from Montrachet went on a crusade, entrusting his young daughter to a Chevalier of his circles. In the Lord’s absence, what happened happened, and a baby was born to the couple. Returning from the crusades, the old gentleman found the illegitimate baby (Batard), who, seeing him, began to cry. The Lord said: “The bastard is crying! (Criot-Bâtard)!” However, he was a gentle man with a soft heart and greeted the baby in the family with the words: “Welcome, bastard from Montrachet (Bienvenue-Bâtard-Montrachet)!”

Noble Wine reccommends

 

We are happy to offer the “pearls” of Côte de Beaune, which we have also discovered for ourselves at Noble Wine. Each wine house is the soul of specific people with their philosophy and faith in their wines and their land, which allowed them to create such wonderful drinks and to prove themselves.

As you continue to discover the red wines of the Côte de Beaune, it is definitely worth getting to know two important production areas that are located next to each other, but this has not made their wine styles similar. Of course, both Pommard and Volnay produce only red wines and only from Pinot Noir grapes. But it has always amazed me how, just a few kilometers apart, winemakers can make wines that are completely opposite in style?! The reason is the variety of soils in the region. Pommard wines give the impression of strong and masculine wines. Domaine Parent produces just such dark red wines with a strong aroma, persistent and rich taste. However, the wines of this house are also characterized by velvety and delicacy, because they were created together with her sister Izabella by a bright and charismatic woman-winemaker in the sixth generation, Anna Parana. There are no Grand Cru vineyards in the village of Pommard, but some Premier Crus unofficially claim top status. Such is, for example, the multi-faceted wine Domaine Parent Pommard 1er Cru “Les Epenots”.

On the other hand, Volnay is the very elegance and refinement that Pinot Noir is capable of. See for yourself by tasting the wines of legendary producer Michel Lafarge. The wines of this producer have always been highly appreciated by real gourmets, because Volnay’s refined and charming taste can only be experienced by the most devoted Burgundy Pinot Noir lovers. For the Burgundian wine collection, we recommend that you familiarize yourself with the 2018 biodynamic wine Domaine Lafarge Volnay 1er Cru “Clos du Chateau des Ducs”. In it you will feel a delicate interplay of refined notes of red fruits and spices, which are tastefully framed by aging in oak barrels. The wine has a deep flavor with wonderful balance and shelf life.

And now it’s time to get to know the mighty white Burgundy, more precisely, the wines from Meursault, Puligny-Montachet and Chassagne-Montrachet.

One of the most impressive wine producing areas in Burgundy is Mersault. Local wines have gained a reputation as strong, full-bodied and aged white wines with a nutty vanilla bouquet and a buttery taste, however, such a description of local wines is considered very superficial. To be sure of the versatility of Burgundy wines, I offer to taste three Mersault wines from three different small family wineries. These are three philosophies, three views on what an exemplary Chardonnay should be, even if it is not from a classified vineyard.

Mersault

Domaine Patrick Javillier Meursault “Clos du Cromin” 2018 – Chardonnay minerality and sophistication brought to life in wine by the Javillier family. A stylish wine that, despite its fine and delicate taste, has wonderful potential and reaches its peak of development six to seven years after harvest.

Domaine Latour-Giraud Meursault “Cuvée Charles Maxime” 2020 – winemaker Jean-Pierre Latour dedicated the lightness and fruitiness of this white wine to his two grandfathers. The wine is made from grapes harvested in four different fields in Mersault.

Domaine Bohrmann Meursault “Les Durots” 2019 – brightness and fullness of Chardonnay flavor, which is ensured by aging in oak barrels. This wine embodies the dream of the founder of the winery, Dieter Bormann. He was born in Europe, but he managed to return to his homeland and realize his dream only in his mature years.

Nothing compares in sophistication to the wines of Puligny and Chassagne-Montrachet. These names have a magical effect on anyone who comes into contact with Burgundy wines. The best Chardonnay vineyards are concentrated here:

 

  • Puligny-Montachet (17 vineyards 1er Cru and 5 Grand Cru)
  • Chassagne-Montrachet (55 vineyards 1er Cru and 3 Grand Cru)
Puligny-Montrachet

The depth of the white wines of Puligny-Montachet is perfectly revealed by the wines of Domaine Jean Charton, but while in Chassagne-Montrachet we recommend tasting the wines of Domaine Philippe Colin and Domaine Guy Amiot, and not only white wines are made here, but also excellent reds of Chassagne-Montrachet.

The Côte de Beaune is rich in impressive wine names, but in the shadow of the powerful names there are always other no less respectable examples, which at first glance seem less fortunate with popularity, but it is precisely such wines that disappear the fastest from wine lists or store shelves, where a demanding and a wine-educated public. Look out for the wonderful wines of Pernand-Vergelesses, Savigny-lès-Beaune, Monthélie, Blagny, Auxey-Duresses, St. Aubin, Santenay, Maranges. As a rule, the price of these wines will also pleasantly surprise you and make you fall in love with local wines even more.

At the end of our familiarization trip through the vineyards of Côte de Beaune, I want to remind you about the most reliable companion of the wines mentioned in the article – Burgundy cuisine. They are relatively simple dishes from farmers’ products, but enriched with a variety of family-kept recipes, special sauces and cooking techniques, so that their taste so perfectly highlights the character of the local wines. That is why Burgundy wines are considered one of the most gastronomic and versatile companions for home-style meals.

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