What is the difference between burgundy and pinot noir

But a perfectly aged Burgundy can be as blissful to drink as a summer sunset is to watch. California Pinot Noir is made in a bolder style, often with a bit more alcohol retained.

So in this category, score one for Burgundy. What California vintners gain in richness, they lose in uniqueness. While there are subtle differences in aromas and flavors from region to region, there also is a certain sameness that occurs as a result of winemaking techniques and technology being so uniform in the state.

Individuality advantage: Burgundy. Here is perhaps the most noticeable stylistic difference between Burgundy and California Pinot Noir. That, thank God, is not the case in the rest of the world. This has been debated constantly as to the ability of duplication. Enter the winemaker. French Burgundy is known for predominate earth and mineral notes and is a bit less fruit forward than most California Pinots…. Very much the mantra of the winemakers in Burgundy.

You could probably guess that the results have been all over the place, and even the experts have been hoodwinked into claiming without a doubt where this or that particular wine came from, only to be woefully incorrect. There is a whole lot of earth out there and some extremely smart, eccentric and gifted growers and winemakers that will come up with amazing Pinots that will stand up to any wines on this earth, period! There can be similarities….

Usually this conversation with Pinot lovers finds its way around to the cost or prices of Burgundies. Are they expensive? Are you kidding me, Hell yes! We have found that there is more consistency year to year within places in the world that get their more stable influences from the ocean, places like Central Coast California. So in summary, it is great to be a nose in the air Pinot Enthusiast, and you might just have the most spectacular Pinot Noir collection from the Americas sitting in your cellar.

But do delve into the exotic, if not confusing regal realm of where this great wine originally came from, and maybe taste a bit of the terroir of Bourgogne. Burgundy wines hold a unique place in the world. After all, in Burgundy the grape is simply the blank canvas on which the soil paints its colours. Most Beaujolais displays a pear-drop edge to its soft red fruit, and often notes of banana and bubble gum too.

These traits come largely from the vinification method semi-carbonic maceration rather than the Gamay grape itself, where a swift fermentation highlights the aromatics and fruit while minimising the tannins. Amongst the top Crus, however, there has been a return to more traditional Burgundian vinification methods and even oak ageing.

Bourgogne is the term is used to describe the Bourgogne Appellation, a wide-reaching classification that covers the generic wines produced across the length and breadth of Burgundy that are not represented under area-specific AOCs. Bourgogne Rouge applies to red wines from Burgundy , which can be produced by over individual villages across the region. Around 4, acres of land across Burgundy are used to produce Bourgogne Rouge, which is around twice as much as is dedicated towards the production of generic whites.

These wines tend to be focused and fresh, with the fruit less cloying than in some New World Pinot Noir wines, and they develop more floral notes as they age.

Although an entry-level wine, some Bourgogne Rouges can be exquisite depending on the area and producer, and yet at a very affordable price. The wines are usually red and are often good value. The wines of Nuits St Georges vary according to their exact provenance. The richest and most sought after are those just south of Nuits St Georges such as les Vaucrains , les Cailles and les St Georges itself. The best can develop into the richest, most complete and long-lived Pinot Noir in the world.

Chardonnay in Burgundy Chardonnay produces exceptional white wines known for their aromas of minerals, flowers and white and yellow fruit. Did you know? Ads item. How to get here.