Question: Liked your interesting Blog on the typical white and red Burgundy aromas. One of the 12 you listed was Empyreumatic Family. Would you please explain further?

Answer: At the Cite in Beaune they explained it as “burnt smoked coffee roasting toast mocha grilled almonds these aromas are linked to the toasting process in the manufacture of oak barrels for wine aging”

Hope this helps.

Your scribe this month visited the exciting new models of viticulture in Bourgogne opened in Chablis May 17, 2023 and Beaune June 17, 2023 but not the one in Macon. They impressively show the history and development over 2000 years and the diversity of the regions including different vineyard soil profiles. Lots to study and learn. Spent most time in Beaune reviewing lots of detailed displays and useful information including the origins of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. Especially enjoyed smelling the typical Bourgogne aromas displayed in large containers shown as attachments here:

FLORAL FAMILY, WHITE FLOWERS
FAMILY OF FRESH FRUITS, CITRUS FRUIT
FAMILY OF FOODS, WHEY
FAMILY OF DRIED FRUITS
CONFECTIONERY FAMILY
FAMILY OF VANILLA, OAK
EMPYREUMATIC FAMILY
FAMILY OF RED FRUITS, BLACK FRUITS
FAMILY OF CANDIED FRUITS
FAMILY OF SPICES
FAMILY OF UNDERGROWTH
ANIMAL FAMILY

These facilities are wonderful Bourgogne foundations of wine knowledge for any enthusiast of their wines. HIghly recommended on your next visit to the region. Will give you expanded insights.

Question: What about presently drinking 2011 Pouilly Fuisse from Louis Jadot?

Answer: This Chardonnay white from the Maconnaise is a solid forwardly drinking wine. Worth opening. Should show mature nutty flavours with some ripe tropical fruit but helped by leaner 2011 vintage citrus notes to help keep it still relatively fresh. Recommend drinking these up now and expect your bottles will provide a few interesting rounding texture surprises. Give them a good chill. Enjoy.

Followers of this Blog will realize your scribe’s admiration of Chablis Les Clos and also top white Burgundy from many climats but foremost St. Aubin, Meursault Perrieres, Corton Charlemagne & Chevalier-Montrachet. So fortunate to spend yet another week in mid-October 2023 studiously studying the vines and visiting many key wineries. Must say I am impressed with the current developments. Smart canopy management together with the inherent ability of old vines to adapt to climate changes and other clever techniques are all making a big difference. Some killer older wines too with one of the leaders tasted Chevalier-Montrachet Grand Cru from outstanding long aging vintage 2014 by top producer Pierre-Yves Colin-Morey clearly displaying why this is one of the greatest dry white wines of the world!

One of the many highlights this month was walking the vineyards of Montrachet & Chevalier-Montrachet on October 14 with knowledgeable geologist Francoise Vannier of Adama Vineyard Terroir for valuable insights. She is a fountain of research and soil analysis to help contribute to your own knowledge of these Grand Cru whites. Check her out for some geological history on winescholarguild.org and monocepage.com for more details. 

Francoise displayed many detailed charts as we walked the steep vineyards. One I particularly admired showed the subsoils here with a dense wide layer at 150 meters of key “Chassagne Limestone” in Montrachet. Also returned to the .2 hectare section of La Cabotte a special one as part of Chevalier-Montrachet Bouchard Pere holdings. Also at the very top you can examine the stratas of soil in fine detail to provide even more insights as to why these Grand Cru white Burgundies are so unique and display their special terroir.

Fascinating indeed. Soil studies provide astute insights into what makes these wines so unique and special.

Question: Which winery do you think did the best social media coverage of their 2023 harvest?

Answer: Pleased to see so much better current harvest information posted on social media by wineries. Well done. Many candidates but my gold star goes to @NGlumineau and @PichonComtesse in #Pauillac on X or Twitter for excellent day-by-day coverage with informative photos on textures from September 6 (day 1) to September 30 (day 20). Check it out #PichonComtesse #PichonLalande #TheBestIsYetToCome