Burgundy wines pick of the crop
Festivals focus on firm favourites
The mere sight of either pinot noir or chardonnay should spark a twinkle in the eye of fans of wines made from either grape, which originate from the French winemaking region of Burgundy.
Hence, both are named Burgundy, and when connoisseurs want to confuse the uninitiated, they talk about a Burgundy red, when they actually refer to pinot noir. In the same vein, they gush about a Burgundy white when they mean chardonnay.
Notably, both Burgundy grapes are the heart of any sparkling wine – either used separately or combined in a bubbly, along sometimes with the addition of another grape varietal, pinot meunier, which is a red-skinned grape.
Typical aroma and flavours of pinot noir wines from coolwarm regions tend to display red fruit characteristics of strawberries, raspberries and cherries. However, pinot noir wines from areas that are too cool are known to reflect vegetal flavours reminiscent of cabbage and wet leaves – while those from hot regions tend to be too fruity and jammy.
Notably, the French’s Domaine de La Romanée Conti produces the most expensive bottles of pinot noir wines in the world, with the 1990 vintage approximately priced at a mind-boggling R253 000 a 750ml bottle.
Meanwhile, the other Burgundy noble variety, chardonnay, is renowned as the most popular wine in the world.
The best chardonnay wines and the most expensive come from Burgundy, eastern France.
Last year, the Telegraph newspaper listed Domaine Leflaive’s Montrachet Grand Cru, Cote de Beaune 2014, a chardonnay, as the one of the 10 most expensive wine bottles in the world at approximately R542 000 a bottle.
One of the die-hard proponents of pinot and chardonnay wines is connoisseur
Juliet Cullinan, who has been hosting her Juliet Cullinan Standard Bank Wine Festival for the past 28 years and features some of the premier expressions of both grapes.
Recently, she showcased some of the best examples of SA chardonnay and pinot wines at a private tasting at Peech Hotel to much applause at the depth and elegant offerings available in the country.
“Our philosophy has always been to showcase limited quantities of exceptional wines which portray a ‘sense of place’. It is a vitrine of the Cape’s finest cellars – hand-picked for their quality and distinction,” said Cullinan, who is now based in Monte Carlo. “Most have excelled internationally, which accounts for the success and continued popularity of South Africa’s most coveted annual celebration.”
Yet, as a Burgundian crusader with South African roots, Cullinan is not alone.
Wine Menu boutique shop owner Corlien Morris spreads her passion through annual pinot and chardonnay festivals of her own, which draw a steady stream of Burgundy romantics every year. This year, it takes place at the Killarney Country Club on May 10.
A recent pinot noir surprise must be the Broad Valley 2014 and 2015 which offer an enamouring double dose for an unsuspecting palate. Crafted from Broad Valley farm owned by David and Leigh Kretzmar in the Klein Rivier Mountains in Western Cape, these wines make a credible representation of a delicious and perfectly balanced pinot noir that is simply unforgettable.
Like any other drink, pinot noir has its detractors who find its lightweight structure too austere – and not surprisingly they share the same headspace as the Anything But Chardonnay (ABC) brigade.