WINE TERMINOLOGY

Winemakers and wine writers use a variety of descriptions to communicate the aromas, flavors and characteristics of wines. Many of the terms seem familiar and natural, yet others are less clear. Use this glossary of common wine terminology to help you better understand and describe the wines you enjoy.

Acidity The presence of natural fruit acids that lend a tart, crisp taste to wine

Aroma Smells in wine that originate from the grape

Astringent Bitter; gives a drying sensation in the mouth

Balanced All components of the wine are in harmony

Barrel Fermented White wine that is fermented in an oak barrel instead of a stainless steel tank

Body The weight and tactile impression of the wine on the palate that ranges from light to heavy/full

Bouquet Smells from winemaking, aging and bottle age

Buttery Rich, creamy flavor associated with barrel fermentation

Character Describes distinct attributes of a wine

Chewy Wine that has a very deep, textured and mouth-filling sensation

Clean Wine without disagreeable aromas or tastes

Closed Wine that needs to open up; aging and/or decanting can help

Complex Layered aromas, flavors and textures

Cooked Wine that has been exposed to excessively high temperatures; spoiled

Corked Wine that has been tainted with moldy smells or other obvious flaws from a bad cork

Delicate Light, soft and fresh wine

Dry No sugar or sweetness remaining; a fruity wine can be dry

Earthy Flavors and aromas of mushroom, soil and mineral

Elegance A well balanced, full wine with pleasant, distinct character

Finish The final impression of a wine on the palate; ranges from short to long

Firm Texture and structure of a young, tannic red

Flabby/Flat Lacking in acidity, mouth-feel, structure and/or texture

Fleshy A soft textured wine

Flinty A mineral tone, aroma or flavor

Floral Flower aromas such as rose petals, violets, gardenia or honeysuckle

Fruity Obvious fruit aromas and flavors; not to be confused with sweet flavors such as berries, cherries and citrus

Full-Bodied Rich, mouth filling, weighty-textured wine

Grassy Aromas and flavors of fresh cut grass or fresh herbs

Green Unripe, tart flavors

Hard Texture and structure that hinders flavor

Herbaceous Grassy, vegetable tones and aromas

Lean Wine is thin and tastes more acidic than fruity

Legs Teardrop impressions of alcohol weightiness that are visible on the inside edges of a wine glass

Light-Bodied A wine with delicate flavors, texture and aromas

Lively Young, fruity and vivacious flavor

Malolactic Conversion of hard, malic acid (green apple flavors) in wine to soft, lactic acid (rich, butter flavors)

Medium-Bodied A wine with solid, but not rich weight and texture

Nose The smell of a wine; aroma

Oak Aromas and flavors contributed during barrel fermentation and/or aging such as vanilla, caramel, chocolate, smoke, spice or toast

Off-Dry (Semi-dry) Very low levels of residual sugar remaining in the wine

Rich Weighty flavors and texture

Round Smooth flavors and texture; well-balanced

Smoky/Toasty Aromas of smoke and toast imparted by fired barrels

Sweet Wines that have a higher concentration of sugar after fermentation

Tannin A drying, astringent sensation on the palate that is generally associated with heavier red wines

Terroir French word reflecting the expression of soil, topography and climate in a wine

Thin Wine is unpleasantly watery and lacks flavor and texture

Vegetal Herbal, weedy aromas and flavors

Velvety Smooth-textured with deep, rich aromas and flavors

Vintage Year that grapes were harvested and fermented to make a wine

BURGUNDY WINES

Agnès et Marcel Durand Red Wine
strong rubyred color, fruity, light menthol smell, fine tannins, full body
  Agnès et Marcel Durand  Beaujolais-Villages

 Aimée-Claude Bonnetain Red Wine
blue red color, scent of red fruit and spices, well structured, balanced, fruity, long, typical, ...
  Aimée-Claude Bonnetain  Côte de Brouilly

 Alain Chatoux Vieilles vignes Red Wine
clar, dark orange red color, notable scent of red fruit with alcoholic notes, aromas of currant j...
  Alain Chatoux  

 Alain Michaud Red Wine
delicious, deep orange-red color with bright red reflexes, smells of faded roases, spices, coffee...
  Alain Michaud  Brouilly

 André Depardon La Madone Red Wine
dark red color, intense raspberry scent, full, fine, balanced, long flavor, rounded
  André Depardon  Fleurie

 André Méziat Red Wine
clear, intense red color, strong scent of vineyard peaches and cherries, full-bodied, rich, soft,...
  André et Monique Méziat  Chiroubles

 Belvedere des pierres dorées White Wine
shining yellow color, complex scent of rhubarb, and strawberries, lively, open, good composition
  Cave coop. Beaujolaise  

 Bernard Broyer Red Wine
deep ruby red color with purple reflexes, expressive scent with citrusfruit, red fruit, and spice...
  Bernard Broyer  Juliénas

 Bernard Jomain Red Wine
intense red color, almost blue, elegant nuances of black currants, strong, rustic
  Bernard Jomain  Brouilly

 Bernard Lavis Red Wine
intense ruby-red color, smells of fresh red fruit, plants, clear, rounded, soft flavor, full
  Bernard Lavis  Beaujolais-Villages

 Bernard Pichet Red Wine
orange-red color, hints of blossoms and raspberries, youthful, plant aromas, balanced
  Bernard Pichet  Chiroubles

 Bernard Santé Red Wine
delicious orange-red color, strong, concentrated scent of licorice and flowers, very soft, sweet,...
  Bernard Santé  Chénas

 Cave Beaujolaise de Quincié Red Wine
shining, clear, pepper-flowery scent, hints of very ripe grapes, open personality, rounded, long ...
  Cave Beaujolaise de Quincié  Régnié

 Cave de Ponchon Red Wine
clear, lively, fruity flavor, well structured, harmonious, pretty
  Florent Dufour  Régnié


Cave de Saint-Vérand Cuvée réservée Vieilles vignes Red Wine
blue-red color, intense scent of red frui and spring roses, noble, clear, spicy notes, pleasant, ...
  Cave Beaujolaise de Saint-Vérand  


Cave des Vignerons de Bel-Air Red Wine
strong red color, pretty scent of black currants and tobacco, soft flavor with aromas of very rip...
  Cave des Vignerons de Bel-Air  Morgon

 Cave des Vignerons de Liergues Rosé Wine
pretty, clear color with hints of autmn, pleasant scent of red currants and quinces, lively, soft...
  Cave des Vignerons de Liergues  


Cave du Beau Vallon Au pays des pierres dorées Red Wine
blue-red color, alcoholic-fruity scent of black currants and spices, full, rounded, aromas of sto...
  Cave du Beau Vallon  

 Cave du Bois de La Salle Red Wine
clear, sparkling, smells of red currants and raspberries, well balanced, fresh, long, lively tann...
  Cave du Château du Bois de La Salle  Saint-Amour


Cave Jean-Ernest Descombes Red Wine
shining, tempting ruby-red color, intense scent of red fruit and spices, hints of roasted coffee ...
  Cave Jean-Ernest Descombes  Morgon


Cédric Martin White Wine
golden color, copper tone, free scent with cloves, gingerbread, and flowers, elegant apricot nuan...
  Martin Cédric  


Cellier de la Vieille Eglise Red Wine
deep ruby-red color, shimmers amber, bouquet of underwood and spicy fruit, lively, somewhat flesh...
  Cellier de la Vieille Eglise  Juliénas


Château Bonnet Elevé en fût de chêne Vieilles vignes Red Wine
blue-red color, lovely oak hints, vanilla, open
  Pierre Perrachon  Chénas


Château de Belleverne Red Wine
ruby-red color, smells of flowers and red fruit, sharp tannins, balanced
  Sylvie Bataillard  Saint-Amour


Château de Belleverne Red Wine
dark orange-red color, purple reflexes, complex, fine smell of raisins, flintstone, and red fruit...
  Bataillard Père et Fils  Chénas


Château de Chénas Red Wine
medium orange-red color, nuances of black currants and spring roses, warm, soft, well balanced, p...
  Cave Château de Chénas  Chénas


Château de la Prat Red Wine
strong red color, complex, elegant scent of very ripe grapes with mineral, strong, lively, pretty
  Aujoux  Juliénas


Château de Leynes White Wine
golden-yellow color, smells like the vine, good character, soft, harmonious
  Jean Bernard  


Château de Pizay Red Wine
deep orange red color, pretty aromas of red fruit, fine, clear, rich, balanced, delicious, enchan...
  SCEA Domaine Château de Pizay  


Château de Raousset Red Wine
intense ruby-red color with purple reflexes, fine, expressive scent of strawberries and currants,...
  SCEA des Héritiers du Compte de Raousset  Chiroubles


Château de Raousset Red Wine
intense red color, fruity scent, pleasant personality, strong, lasting
  Château de Raousset  Morgon


Château de Vaux Cuvée traditionnelle Red Wine
light ruby-red color, crystal clear reflexes, very pretty scent of fresh grapes, elegant, harmoni...
  Jacques et Marie-Ange de Vermont  Beaujolais-Villages


Château des Boccards Red Wine
intense orange red color, scent of overripe fruit, hunt-, and pepper hins, long lasting, soft, ro...
  James Pelloux  Chénas


Château des Jacques Clos du Grand Carquelin Red Wine
shining orange-red color, strong, wood scent, fruity nuances, hints of roasted coffee, oak wood, ...
  Château des Jacques  Moulin-À-Vent


Château des Ravatys Cuvée Mathilde Courbe Red Wine
light red color, smells of cut wood and underwood, lively, fine, harmonious, long lasting
  Institut Pasteur  Côte de Brouilly


Château du Bluizard Red Wine
intense red color, smells of sour cherries and raspberries, full, well structured, cherry aromas
  SCE des Domaines Saint-Charles  Brouilly


Château du Bourg Cuvée Réserve Red Wine
dark ruby red color, intense, fruity scent, soft, fleshy, aroma of red fruit, pleasant, balanced,...
  GAEC Georges Matray et Fils  Fleurie

BURGUNDY WINES - COTE DE BEAUNE

The Côte de Beaune is the more southerly part of the Côte d'Or. The northernmost tip abuts onto the Côte de Nuits, and the region extends south to the Côte Chalonnaise. The geology is more variable than that of the Côte de Nuits. The region sits on a combination of Callovian, Argovian and Rauracian limestones, with much intervening marlstone. Obviously, the climate is the same as for the Côte de Nuits - continental, with a wide annual temperature difference. Spring rains and frost, and Autumn rains, which may interfere with the harvest, can also be a problem here. The vineyards face south-east on the slope between the plain to the south-east, and the hills to the north-west, the easterly aspect aiding exposure to the sun. 

Pernand-Vergelesses can be a source of some good value Burgundy, but no great wines. Nearby, however, we start to see some of the more serious wines of the Côte de Beaune at Aloxe-Corton. The wines of this village, as well as a number of other villages nearby, are red as well as white. Red Corton should be a muscular, savoury wine, whereas the white is a rich, intense, buttery drink. Beaune, Savigny-les-Beaune and Chorey-les-Beaune are all best known for their red wines. The wines produced here are well fruited, tasty, sometimes quite elegant affairs, although they are somewhat lighter (and less expensive) when from the latter two villages. 

Pommard can make wonderful red Burgundy, well structured and meaty, whereas Volnay is better known for it's heady, perfumed and delicately textured wines.

Towards the southern end of the Côte de Beaune, however, are the Côte d'Or's most famous white wine villages. Meursault produces rich, complex, intense yet elegant wines, but it is Puligny-Montrachet and Chassagne-Montrachet that lead the pack. The former bears a wonderful combination of richness with mineral complexities, the latter are sometimes broader and more open, although both are lovely, and words cannot really do them justice. Nearby are the villages of St-Romain, St-Aubin, Santenay and Auxey-Duresses. All are responsible for some value Burgundy. 

The appellations of the Côte de Beaune are as follows:

Grands Crus: As with the Côte de Nuits, such wines are not required to bear the village name. The Grands Crus are as follows:

Aloxe-Corton: Corton (the largest Grand Cru in Burgundy, with a number of subdivisions, eg Corton-Bressandes), Corton-Charlemagne.

Puligny-Montrachet: Montrachet, Bâtard-Montrachet, Chevalier-Montrachet, Bienvenues-Bâtard-Montrachet.

Chassagne-Montrachet: Montrachet, Bâtard-Montrachet, Criots-Bâtard-Montrachet.

As with the Côtes de Nuits, some vineyards lie in more than one village. Here, the Grands Crus Montrachet and Bâtard-Montrachet lie in both Puligny and Chassagne-Montrachet. Most villages of the Côte de Beaune have no Grands Crus.

Premiers Crus: As with the Côtes de Nuits, these are too numerous to name. As with Chablis and the Côtes de Nuits, a wine blended from several such sites will be labelled as Premier Cru, whereas a wine from an individual vineyard will bear the vineyard name, eg Pommard Premier Cru Les Petits Epenots.

Village Wines: The villages of the Côte de Beaune are Ladoix, Pernand-Vergelesses, Aloxe-Corton, Savigny-lès-Beaune, Chorey-lès-Beaune, Beaune, Pommard, Volnay, Monthelie, St-Romain, Auxey-Duresses, Meursault, Blagny, Puligny-Montrachet, Chassagne-Montrachet, St-Aubin and Santenay. Blagny is a small hamlet close to the Premier Cru vineyards of Meursault.

Sub-Village Appellations: These include Côte de Beaune Villages (may be applied to declassified wine from fourteen villages of the Côte de Beaune not including Aloxe-Corton, Beaune, Volnay or Pommard), Bourgogne Hautes Côtes de Nuits (applies to a large number of communes to the west of the Côte d'Or), and basic Bourgogne. There is also the confusing appellation Côte de Beaune, which refers to wines from the commune of Beaune not deemed worthy of the appellation Beaune.

The Côte d'Or - My top wines. As many producers have vineyards in so many different sites, I have grouped together the good names in Burgundy here. This is a personal list (in alphabetical order), so it doesn't include great but hardly affordable domaines such as Romanée-Conti. My list of top estates and producers includes Domaine d'Arlot, Simon Bize, Robert Chevillon, Bruno Clair, Michel Colin-Deléger, Drouhin, René Engel, Faiveley, Jacques Gagnard-Delagrange, Jean-Marc Blain-Gagnard, Richard Fontaine-Gagnard, Jean Grivot, Hudelot-Noëllat, Jadot, Jaffelin, Henri Jayer, Leroy, Méo-Camuzet, Albert Morot, Daniel Rion, Domaine des Perdrix, and Etienne Sauzet. 

BURGUNDY WINES - COTE DE NUIT

The Côte d'Or is divided into two main viticultural regions, the Côte de Nuits being the more northerly of the two. The northernmost tip lies just south of Dijon, and the region extends down to the Côte de Beaune, onto which it abuts. Named after the town of Nuits-St-Georges, it is most widely reknowned for it's red wines, although there are a few worthy white wines made here also. Geologically, the region sits on a combination of Bajocian, Bathonian, Callovian and Argovian limestones, with some Liassic marlstone. The climate is continental, with a wide annual temperature difference. Spring rains and frost can be a problem, as can Autumn rain, which may interfere with the harvest. This is true for the whole Côte d'Or. The vineyards lie on the slope between the plain to the east, and the hills to the west. Soils on the plain, to the east of the N74 (not illustrated), are too fertile for quality wine, and on the hills it is too sparse. The easterly aspect also aids exposure to the sun. 

The most northerly village of note is Marsannay, an up and coming wine region for the production of value Burgundy. Next is Fixin, a village which can produce some good value wines, although they never achieve greatness.

Further south come the villages of the Côte de Nuits that produce some of the great wines of Burgundy. Firstly, Gevrey-Chambertin, which impresses with the combination of its muscular, weighty attitude and paradoxical perfumed edge. Morey-St-Denis is a meaty, intense wine which can be superb, but like many of these famous names overcropping and poor vinification techniques can result in some very weak wines. Chambolle-Musigny may be marked by a wonderful, floral, fragrant bouquet, whereas at Vougeot we have an unusual situation. Much of the wine is classified as Grand Cru as it lies within the walled vineyard of the Clos de Vougeot, but only a small part of this wine is truly of Grand Cru quality. At best it can be a tasty, full-bodied, richly fruited wine, although it is not one of the great Grands Crus.

Flagey-Echézeaux is unusual as it lies to the east of all the other vineyards. The wines can be quite fine. Next is Vosne-Romaneé, a fine set of vineyards which can produce some superb wines. Vosne-Romaneé can have a rich, creamy, sensuous texture, even in the village wines from a good producer. Other than Nuits-St-Georges, there are no other villages of huge significance.

The appellations of the Côte de Nuits are as follows:

Grands Crus: Such wines are not required to bear the village name. Thus wines produced, for example, from the Grand Cru Chambertin Clos de Bèze would not include the village name of Gevrey-Chambertin, where it is situated. These are as follows:

Gevrey-Chambertin: Chambertin, Chambertin Clos de Bèze, Charmes-Chambertin, Chapelle-Chambertin, Griotte- Chambertin, Latricières-Chambertin, Mazis-Chambertin, Ruchottes-Chambertin.

Morey-St-Denis: Bonnes Mares, Clos Saint-Denis, Clos de Tart, Clos de la Roche, Clos des Lambrays.

Chambolle-Musigny: Musigny, Bonnes Mares.

Vougeot: Clos de Vougeot.

Vosne-Romanée: La Romanée, La Tâche, Richebourg, Romanée-Conti, Romanée-St-Vivant, La Grande Rue.

Flagey-Echézeaux: Grands-Echézeaux, Echézeaux.

The Grand Cru Bonnes Mares straddles the villages of Morey-St-Denis and Chambole-Musigny. Nuits-St-Georges has no Grands Crus.

Premiers Crus: These are too numerous to name here. As with Chablis, a wine blended from several such sites will be labelled as Premier Cru, whereas a wine from an individual vineyard will bear the vineyard name, eg. Gevrey-Chambertin Premier Cru Clos Saint-Jacques.

Village Wines: The villages of the Côte de Nuits are Marsannay (La-Côte), Fixin, Gevrey-Chambertin, Morey-St-Denis, Chambolle Musigny, Vougeot (although anything other than Grand Cru Clos de Vougeot is rare), Vosne-Romanée and Nuits-St-Georges. Village wines from Flagey-Echézeaux are sold under the Vosne-Romanée appellation.

Sub-Village Appellations: These include Côte de Nuits Villages (may be applied to wine from Corgoloin, Comblanchien, Prémeaux, Brochon, and declassified wine from Fixin), Bourgogne Hautes Côtes de Nuits (applies to a large number of communes to the west of the Côte d'Or), and basic Bourgogne.

BURGUNDY WINES - BEAUJOLAIS

The Beaujolais is a French AOC wine, almost all Beaujolais wines are reds of the Gamay grape but like most AOC wines are not labelled varietally. Whites from the region, which make up only 1% of its production, are made with Chardonnay grapes. Beaujolais tends to be a very light bodied red wine, with relatively high amounts of acidity which makes it less a casual sipping wine and one more suited to food.

Most Beaujolais should be drunk within the first three years of its life. Only the best examples of the ten "crus" listed below - and produced by the best vintners - improve with age for up to ten years.

Wines labeled simply "Beaujolais" account for 50% of the production. Beaujolais Villages makes up 25% of the region's production, and comes from better vineyard sites in and around the ten "crus" in the north part of Beaujolais. Wine from these individual crus, which make up the balance, can be more full-bodied, darker in color, and significantly longer lived. Unfortunately for the unknowing wine drinker, these wines do not usually use the word "Beaujolais" on the label, leaving one with little recourse but to memorize the list. The ten crus are: Morgon, Moulin-à-Vent, Brouilly, Côte de Brouilly, Saint-Amour, Chiroubles, Chénas, Fleurie, Juliénas, and most recently, Régnié.

By far, the largest production comes from the négoçiant Georges Duboeuf, who makes the well-known "flower labels".

Tourism

Some of the major tourist attractions are the Gothic abbey church of Saint-Seine-l'Abbaye and the Romanesque abbey church at Saulieu, as well the Château de Bussy Rabutin at Bussy-le-Grand. The Abbey of Cîteaux, headquarters of the Cistercian Order, lies to the east of Nuits-Saint-Georges in the south of the département.

BURGUNDY WINES - COTE D'OR

The département is part of the current région of Bourgogne. It is surrounded by the départements of Yonne, Nièvre, Saône-et-Loire, Jura, Aube, and Haute-Marne.

A chain of hills called the Plateau de Langres runs from north-east to south-west through the département to the north of Dijon and continues south-westwards as the Côte d'Or escarpment, after which the département is named. It is the south-east facing slope of the escarpment which is the site of the celebrated Burgundy vineyards. To the west of the Plateau de Langres, towards Champagne, lies the densely wooded district of Châtillonais. To the south-east of the plateau and escarpment, the département lies in the broad, flat-bottomed valley of the middle course of the Saône.

Rivers include:

* The Saône 

* The Seine rises in he southern end of the Plateau de Langres. 

* The Ouche rises on the dip slope of the escarpment and flows to the Saône via Dijon. 

* The Armançon rises on the dip slope of the escarpment and flows north-westward. 

* The Arroux rises on the dip slope of the escarpment at the southern end of the département. 

Climate

The climate of the département is temperate, with abundant rain on the west side of the central range.

Beaujolais

Beaujolais is a historical province and a wine-producing region in France. It is now part of the Burgundy région for administrative purposes. The region is known internationally for its long tradition of winemaking, and more recently for the enormously popular Beaujolais nouveau.

BURGUNDY WINES - THE GEOGRAPHY

Highest point: Haut-Folin (901m) in the Morvan. The Canal of Burgundy joins the Rivers Yonne and Saône, allowing barges to navigate from the north to south of France. Construction began in 1765 and was completed in 1832. At the summit there is a tunnel 3.333 kilometers long in a straight line. The canal is 242 kilometers long, with a total 209 locks and crosses two counties of Burgundy, the Yonne and Cote d'Or. The canal is now mostly used for riverboat tourism; Dijon, the most important city along the canal, has a harbor for leisure boats.