Côte de beaune

Subcategories

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  Volnay

  Volnay is a village in the Cote de Beaune sub-region of Burgundy, renowned for making some of the smoothest, most delicate red wines of the southern Cote d'Or. Located between Pommard (famous for its powerful reds) and Meursault (the home of rich whites).

  History and Appellation

  Volnay has had its own appellation since 1937, and it is exclusively dedicated to red wines made from the Pinot Noir grape. The region is especially known for its ability to express the finesse and delicate aromas of Pinot Noir, with wines that exhibit an extraordinary harmony and elegance.

  Volnay’s Terroir and Vineyards

  The terroir of Volnay plays a crucial role in shaping its wines. The vineyards benefit from lime-rich soils and a south-facing exposure, ensuring ample sunlight for the grapes to ripen perfectly. More than half of the vineyards covered by the Volnay title are classified as Premier Cru, highlighting the region’s exceptional potential.

  Key Vineyards and Premier Cru Sites

  Some of the top Volnay Premier Cru vineyards include:

  • Clos des Chênes: Known for producing complex wines with remarkable depth and a harmonious balance of fruit and spice.
  • Taillepieds: Renowned for wines that are often characterized by their elegant texture and ripe fruit flavors.
  • Bousse d'Or: A premier cru site that produces wines with an enticing combination of red berry aromas and subtle earthy notes.
  • Clos des Ducs: One of the most prestigious vineyards, producing wines with extraordinary aging potential, depth, and a seductive fruitiness.

  Volnay Wines: Style and Flavor Profile

  The wines of Volnay are often praised for their elegance, soft tannins, and seductive fruitiness. The typical profile includes vibrant red fruit flavors such as cherry, raspberry, and strawberry, along with delicate notes of rose petals, spices, and hints of earth and underbrush.

  Volnay wines are known for their smoothness and silky texture, which makes them highly approachable, even at a young age. However, they also have great aging potential, with top Volnays maturing beautifully over the years, evolving to show more complex floral, spicy, and earthy nuances.

  Aging Potential

  Though Volnay wines are graceful from an early age, the best Premier Crus can age for 10 to 20 years or more. With time, the wines evolve, revealing more complex layers of floral notes, silky tannins, and an increasingly harmonious flavor profile.

  Food Pairing

  The delicate nature of Volnay wines makes them versatile for food pairings. Their bright acidity and smooth tannins make them perfect companions for a wide range of dishes, including:

  • Grilled meats, particularly duck and lamb.
  • Mushroom-based dishes, such as wild mushrooms or coq au vin.
  • Soft cheeses like Brie or Époisses.
  • Pâté and charcuterie.

  Conclusion

  Volnay is one of Burgundy's most prized villages, offering red wines of exceptional elegance and delicacy. Made from Pinot Noir, these wines combine fruit-forward richness with floral nuances, creating a harmony that makes them perfect for both immediate enjoyment and long-term aging. With its remarkable vineyards, such as Clos des Chênes and Clos des Ducs, Volnay produces wines that are seductive, complex, and highly sought after by collectors and wine enthusiasts alike.

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  Savigny-lès-beaune

  Savigny-les-Beaune is a large village in the Cote de Beaune sub-region of Burgundy, nestled between the hillsides of a sub-valley in the Cote d'Or escarpment.

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  Meursault

  Meursault is a large village in the Cote de Beaune sub-region of Burgundy.

  The most famous of these are produced at the southern end of the commune, at the Charmes, Perrieres and Genevrieres sites.

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  Pommard

  The vineyards of Pommard are sandwiched between those of Beaune on the Nord and Volnay to the south.

  The appellation of Pommard is very large, covering over 1'600 acres. Less than 20 % of that is in Premiers crus.

  The most famous Premiers crus are les Epenots and Les Rugiens.

  Les Rugiens, which is divided in two sections called Hauts (high) and Bas (low), is located to the south of the village near the border of the Volnay appelation. Most of the Rugiens have rich, robust, intense taste, and often display a pronounced peppery. If Pommard ever obtains Grand Cru status for one of its vineyards, it should be Les Rugiens.

  Pommard at its best is the fullest wine made in  the Côte de Beaune. Less tannic but fatter than Corton, it is soft as well as concentrated, with a big heady perfume.

  Top Pommards drink well between the  ages of 4 and 12 years. Only a handful improve beyond a decade.

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  Puligny Montrachet

  Puligny-Montrachet is a village in the Cote de Beaune sub-region of Burgundy, with its own communal appellation.

  It is also home to four Grand Cru vineyards (Montrachet, Batard Montrachet, Chevalier-Montrachet, Bienvenue-Batard-Montrachet) and 17 Premier Cru sites.

  Key Features of Puligny-Montrachet

  • Location: Situated in the Côte de Beaune, Puligny-Montrachet benefits from the region's perfect conditions for Chardonnay cultivation, characterized by calcareous soils and a favorable climate.
  • Appellation: Puligny-Montrachet wines are produced under the AOC Puligny-Montrachet, encompassing both village wines and those from Premier Cru and Grand Cru sites.
  • Famous for Chardonnay: The wines produced here are exclusively made from Chardonnay grapes, a variety that flourishes in the region's diverse terroirs, resulting in wines with elegance, freshness, and complexity.

  Puligny-Montrachet Wine Style

  • Flavor Profile: Puligny-Montrachet wines are known for their refined elegance, with aromas of white flowers, citrus, almonds, and subtle oak. The wines are well-structured with a fresh, vibrant acidity balanced by a creamy texture.
  • Aging: Puligny-Montrachet wines have great aging potential, particularly those from Grand Cru vineyards. With time, these wines develop tertiary notes, becoming more complex and layered, with flavors of honey, toast, and butter.
  • Food Pairing: Puligny-Montrachet is a versatile wine that pairs well with seafood, lobster, creamy dishes, grilled poultry, and even aged cheeses like Comté or Brie.

  Why Puligny-Montrachet is a Must-Try Wine

  Puligny-Montrachet offers a benchmark for Burgundy's Chardonnay wines, making it an essential wine for collectors and connoisseurs alike. From its Grand Cru offerings to the more accessible Premier Cru, Puligny-Montrachet wines showcase the perfect balance of mineral intensity, elegance, and richness. Whether enjoyed young or aged, Puligny-Montrachet delivers an unparalleled tasting experience that highlights the excellence of Burgundy.

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  Beaune

  Beaune is the epicenter of Burgundy's wine trade and  the second-largest town in the famous Cote d'Or wine region.

  Beaune wines have always been predominantly red, made from Burgundy’s flagship grape, Pinot Noir.

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  Corton

  Corton Grand Cru: The Pinnacle of Burgundy's Red and White Wines

  Corton Grand Cru is one of Burgundy's most famous and historic Grand Cru vineyards, located in the Côte de Beaune sub-region of Burgundy. Unlike many other Burgundy Grand Cru sites, Corton is renowned for producing both red and white wines, making it one of the most versatile and celebrated appellations in the region.

  Location and Terroir

  The Corton Grand Cru vineyards are located on the Corton Hill, which straddles the communes of Aloxe-Corton and Ladoix-Serrigny. The terroir here is exceptional, characterized by limestone-rich soils, a cool climate, and a south-facing slope, all of which contribute to the wines' complexity and aging potential. The diverse terroirs within the Grand Cru area result in a wide range of wine styles, from powerful reds to elegant whites.

  Red Corton Grand Cru

  The red wines of Corton Grand Cru are made primarily from the Pinot Noir grape, which thrives in this unique terroir. These wines are known for their depth, complexity, and aging potential. Corton red wines are often full-bodied, with rich flavors of dark berries, cherry, spices, and earthy notes. With age, they develop a velvety texture and more complex tertiary aromas, including leather, truffle, and forest floor.

  White Corton Grand Cru

  The white wines of Corton Grand Cru are made from Chardonnay and are considered some of the best white wines in Burgundy. These wines are full-bodied, with a rich mouthfeel, a vibrant acidity, and complex flavors of ripe fruit, butter, honey, and oak. Corton white wines are known for their mineral backbone and excellent aging potential, developing more subtle notes of hazelnuts, toast, and almond paste over time.

  Famous Climates of Corton Grand Cru

  The Corton Grand Cru vineyard is divided into several distinct climats (or sub-vineyard plots), each with its unique character. Notable climats include:

  • Corton (the largest plot and often used to refer to the entire Grand Cru)
  • Corton-Bressandes: Known for producing rich, powerful reds with good aging potential.
  • Corton-Charlemagne: The most famous white wine climat, producing elegant, mineral-driven white wines with a rich texture and flavor profile.
  • Corton-Perrières: Known for its more refined style, offering wines with precision and excellent aging potential.

  Aging Potential

  Corton Grand Cru wines, both red and white, are known for their long aging potential. The reds typically reach their peak after 10 to 20 years, while the whites can often age for 20 years or more, developing a deeper complexity and richness.

  Food Pairing

  • Red Corton Grand Cru wines pair wonderfully with roast meats, grilled game, coq au vin, and aged cheeses such as Comté or Époisses.
  • White Corton Grand Cru wines are excellent with lobster, grilled fish, creamy sauces, and soft cheeses like Brie or Camembert.

  Conclusion

  Corton Grand Cru represents the pinnacle of Burgundy’s wine production, offering both exceptional red and white wines that showcase the region's unique terroir. From the powerful Pinot Noir reds to the elegant and mineral-driven Chardonnay whites, Corton is a vineyard of unparalleled prestige. Whether you're enjoying a young Corton or a carefully aged bottle, this Grand Cru offers an experience of luxury, complexity, and refinement, making it an essential part of any Burgundy wine collection.

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  Santenay

  Santenay is a charming village, at the southern end of the Côte de Beaune, below the Mont de Sène. 

  The wines produced here are predominantly red and made from Pinot Noir, although a small quantity of Chardonnay is also produced.

  The red wines  are full, rich. They generally offer good value for money.

  Some figures about the appellation Santenay :

  • 254 hectares of village Santenay.
  • 124 hectares of premier cru vineyards (10 in all). Best vineyards include Les Gravières, La Maladière, Clos de Tavannes
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  Chassagne Montrachet

  Chassagne-Montrachet is a village in the Cote de Beaune sub-region of Burgundy with its own communal appellation, created in 1937.

  Chassagne-Montrachet is best known for its rich white wines made from Chardonnay, and also produces excellent red wine from Pinot Noir.

  Chassagne-Montrachet is home to the most southerly of Burgundy's Grand Cru vineyard sites, Criots-Batard-Montrachet.