Tolchards Wine Brochure 2023 - Magazine - Page 75
FRANCE - BURGUNDY
BURGUNDY
Possibly the Grandest of all the worlds wine regions,
Bourgogne lays claim to the world’s greatest
expressions of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay which
are the principal grapes. Every producer will tell you
that the terroir of each plot of land gives their wines
a unique character. These claims are borne out by
the complex geology and geography of the area.
Winemaking can be traced back to Roman times,
but it was Medieval Catholic Monks who really
honed the craft of winemaking to such high standards.
Thanks to them the fresh, flinty Chardonnay of
Chablis, the premier Pinot Noir of the Côte de Nuits,
the nutty, floral Chardonnay of the Côte de Beaune
and the restrained oak and ripe fruits of the Mâconnais.
Burgundy
ZESTY HALLMARKS
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About 200 million years ago, the region was part of a vast,
tropical sea. Time transformed the seabed into limestone soils.
These soils are the secret behind the zesty minerality that’s the
hallmark of Burgundy wines. If you venture into the vineyards,
you can find chunks of limestone or marl (limestone mixed
with clay), that contain fascinating fossilized sea creatures.
