Imagine, 200 to 250 million years ago. There are no vines. And for good reason… the Burgundy of today was then under a warm and shallow sea, a real “Tahitian lagoon“. Over the next 170 million years, seaweed and shellfish accrete to form limestone. Jump forward in time and now it is 30 million years ago. The Alps rise and cause a shock wave creating folds, hollows and mounts. The Bressan rift collapses, thus outlining the relief of the Côte and Hautes Côtes as you see and admire them today. The numerous geological movements of the Tertiary Era then allowed men to form a mosaic of thousands of plots.

Wine is in essence and by definition a product of Terroir. The very principle of French appellations is rooted in the extraordinary diversity of regions and Protected Appellations of Origin in France (Appellations d’Origine Protégée).

The Burgundy vineyards give rise to great wines with historical and international renown.

If the most famous Wines are Premiers and Grands Crus, you will also discover wonderful Regional or Village appellations that will delight your senses during these two exceptional days.

Corpeau

In 2017, producers of the Régionale appellation Bourgogne from Côte de Nuits and Côte de Beaune were granted the “additional geographical denomination” of “Bourgogne Côte d’Or”, their wines thus becoming Identified Burgundies within the Régionale Bourgogne AOC, limited to specific geographical areas within the Burgundy appellation. This designation is reserved for red and white still wines produced within 40 identified municipalities. Corpeau is among these 40 communities so quite naturally the Bourgogne Chardonnay and Pinot Noir from Corpeau can be designated “Burgundy Côte d’Or”.

The red wines of the appellation Burgundy Côte d’Or are cherry red in colour with glints of dark ruby. The nose offers aromas of cherry, blackcurrant, and blackberry, with hints of grenadine and peony. In the mouth, they are rounded and delicate, with fine tannins and good fruit, leading to a fresh, light finish.

The white wines of the appellation Burgundy Côte d’Or show a pale yellow gold colour with silvery greenish-yellow hues. The nose offers hints of lemon, pear, and almond, along with acacia and hawthorn blossom, with notes of aniseed, peach, lime blossom, mint, and pineapple when the grapes are grown on soils tending more towards clay. A saline, lemony finish reveals aromatic touches of licorice and brioche.

Puligny-Montrachet 

Corpeau’s close neighbour and friend, just a few meters away, benefits from completely different soils and sub-soils thanks to the geological adventure started 250 million years ago (cf above). Over an area of 210.70 ha / 520.65 ac in white (Chardonnay and Aligoté) (including 98.13 ha / 242.48 ac in Premier Cru) and 0.76 ha / 1.88 ac in red (Pinot Noir) (including 0.05 ha / 0.12 ac in Premier Cru) Puligny-Montrachet produces no fewer than 25 place-names known as Village appellation, 17 Premiers Crus and 4 Grands Crus including the majestic “Montrachet”.

Each appellation is the true expression of the terroir. The Cistercian monks had already noticed the differences between each plot. It was not until 1937 that an official INAO classification was obtained.

First Crus (in yellow) and Grands Crus (in orange) of Puligny-Montrachet

Village Appellations (in green) of Puligny-Montrachet

Blagny

Following the curves of the hill with the eye, we can spot a hamlet called Blagny, administered by the town of Puligny-Montrachet. It is the epicentre of the designated area of the AOP (Appellations d’Origine Protégé) “Blagny”. Both white and red wines are produced in this area. But the whole of Blagny’s climats and lieux-dits – the specific vineyards – are divided between the municipalities of Puligny-Montrachet and Meursault. During the Saint-Vincent Tournante 2021, all eight climats and two lieux-dits of the hamlet will be honoured.

The hamlet of Blagny is administered by the municipality of Puligny-Montrachet. It is the epicentre of the designated area of the AOP “Blagny”. Both white and red wines are produced in this area. However, all of Blagny’s climates and localities are divided between the municipalities of Meursault and Puligny-Montrachet.

Certain appellation specificities exist depending on the grape variety and the locality… explanations:

1-    In the case of white wines made from Chardonnay

• Within the commune of Meursault, the first cru whites claim the following climats:
  • « La Genelotte », « la pièce sous le bois », « les ravelles », « sous Blagny », « sous le dos d’âne »
  • or “BLAGNY” (combining, or not, the above climats, view this indication as transversal)

• Within the commune of Puligny-Montrachet, the first cru whites claim the following climats:
  • « hamlet of Blagny », « sous le puits », « sur ou sous la garenne »

For this commune there is not the notion of transversality “Blagny”, but of a proper climat “hamlet of Blagny”.

2-    In the case of red wines made from Pinot Noir

• For the communes of Meursault and Puligny-Montrachet, the first cru reds claim the AOP “BLAGNY” and issue from the following climats:
  • « La Genelotte », « la pièce sous le bois », « sous Blagny », « sous le dos d’âne » « hameau de Blagny », « sous le puits », « sur ou sous la garenne »

3-    In the case of the lieux-dits, (without the mention 1st cru):

• ”Bois de Blagny” (on the Meursault side) carries the AOP “Meursault”, whether red or white
• “le Trézin” (on the Puligny side) carries the AOP “Puligny-Montrachet” for whites and “Blagny” for reds.

Note that the additional geographical name “Côte de Beaune” can be added for the production of reds from the entire area designated by the AOP “Blagny”.