5 things you did not know about Red Burgundy wine
Ask any wine lover, collector, or professional, and they will all tell you that Red Burgundy is the holy grail of viticulture. If you are new to the world of wine, you might wonder what all the hype is about and how to go about buying a good Red Burgundy.
So, here are the top five things you need to know about Red Burgundy according to Tom Harrow, wine director at Honest Grapes:
What is Burgundy wine made of?
Burgundy wine is simply wine made in the central-eastern French region of Burgundy. The two most well-known wines from the region are the Red and White Burgundy. Red Burgundy is made using 100% Pinot Noir grapes, and White Burgundy is made from 100% Chardonnay grapes.
Winemakers also cultivate the lesser-known Gamay and Aligoté grapes in this region. Gamay is most notably found in fruity reds like Beaujolais, while the Aligoté grape can be found in Bourgogne aligoté, a young white wine.
2. What’s the big deal with Burgundy wine season?
The unique soil qualities in the Burgundy region give the wine a distinct profile, and there is a long, refined winemaking tradition. Also, Burgundian vineyards are completely exposed to the weather: one bad storm or late frost, and the whole harvest is gone! The vintage quality and flavour profile are highly influenced by the weather conditions of that year. As not many vineyards are allowed to produce Burgundy wine, it makes the little that is actually created even more precious.
Burgundy season is the pinnacle of all Burgundy growers' efforts, love, and patience. The two-year-old vintages finally get released to the public and become available to buy en primeur, meaning that you can secure a bottle from a specific batch or cuvée, and receive it a year later once ready for consumption. The now-released 2020 Red Burgundy are said to be gourmand and frais, thanks to the exceptionally good weather of the year.
3. What makes Red Burgundy wines so special?
Millions of years ago, the region was a shallow sea, rich in creatures with hard, calcium-rich shells. After the disappearance of the sea, the shells merged with the soil and left a limestone marl terroir. Terroir is a French word that refers to the environment in which a wine is produced, the “sense of place” of a wine. The idea is that when you drink a wine, you can actually taste the region where the wine was made.
The quality of the land in Burgundy is the definitive reason why its wines are so unique. The wines are classified by four levels according to their origin:
· Grand Cru - collector wine from the best vineyards (2% of vineyards),
· Premier Cru - high-quality origin (12% of vineyards),
· Village Wines - single village origin (36% of vineyards),
· Regional Wines - multiple village origin (50% of vineyards).
You can find the vineyard classification on the bottle label.
4. Is Red Burgundy wine healthy?
When it comes to health, alcohol is not the first thing that comes to mind. However, red wine can be good for your health when consumed reasonably. Grape skin is rich in beneficial compounds, such as an antioxidant called resveratrol, which helps lower blood pressure and improves gut and heart health. Grape skin is left on during the fermentation of red wine, meaning that it keeps all the great properties of the skin.
Please note: the NHS advise men and women not to drink more than 14 units a week (about six to seven standard glasses of wine)
5. Why is Red Burgundy wine so expensive, and how to choose on a budget?
There are many reasons for the high price tag of Red Burgundy, but it ultimately comes down to a mix of factors, including high demand, controlled production, and quality of the wine. The prestige associated with the region's long-standing reputation of excellent winemaking drives a great demand for Burgundy wines. Moreover, the production of Red Burgundy wine is strongly monitored and needs to be AOC-certified (appellation d'origine contrôlée – ‘controlled designation of origin’).
Although it is true that Burgundy wines tend to be expensive, there are also delicious, affordable options if you know where to look. One way to purchase Red Burgundy wines at a more affordable price is to buy en primeur. This is also an excellent way to secure exclusive wines or smaller cuvées, such as Edouard Delaunay’s Nuits Saint Georges (£73.00 per magnum, £208 per six bottles). Despite its modest pricing, 60% of the cuvée is from ‘Les Saint Georges’ – the village’s most illustrious Premier Cru, offering a true and deeply satisfying expression of the individual terroirs to the palate.