Drink a really good red Burgundy before you die! Why?
No other wine captures people's attention, taste buds, and wallets as does a really good red Burgundy.
No other wine delivers such heady perfume, such smooth-textured sweet fruit
combined with such primal, earthy, autumnal flavors, creating this seemingly
weightless energy in the mouth as it’s drunk, as does a really good red
Burgundy. The purity. The precision. The refreshment. One can go on and on.
But, in short, the experience can be bordering on otherworldly.
%20near%20Gevrey-Chambertin,%20Burgundy%20AdobeStock_526381184.jpeg "Route des Grands Crus road sign in front of vineyard near Gevrey-Chambertin, Burgundy. Best red wines. Bucket list wine - wines to try before you die")
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| Route des Grands Crus near Gevrey-Chambertin, Burgundy | © Richard Semik / stock.adobe.com |
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| A great read by Maximillian Potter whether you're a wine lover or not |
I strongly recommend going to a tasting of Grand Crus and Premier Crus
being held by a reputable merchant. For a fraction of the cost you’ll get to
try a range of delicious wine. And, then, maybe treat yourself to a bottle
of your favorite.
The quality and style of Burgundy are also heavily influenced by the
vintage. And vintages in Burgundy are anything but consistent. Although,
thanks to advances in viticulture and winemaking techniques, less than ideal
growing conditions aren't always as disastrous as they once were. Still,
before shelling out significant coin for a bottle of really good red
Burgundy (for mere mortals, if the wine's good the coin will be significant)
do some research ... read some vintage charts or talk to a wine merchant
that you trust.
The history of Burgundy's vineyards is as rich, fascinating, and complex as
the wines themselves. Winemaking in the region dates back at least 2,000
years. Indeed, the Romanée part of Domaine de la Romanée-Conti is believed
to be a nod to the Romans who cultivated vines in Burgundy during their
occupation of the region.
However, it was the Benedictine and Cistercian monks in the Middle Ages who
really put Burgundy on the vinous map and made the wines of Burgundy what
they are today. The monks were meticulous record-keepers and keen observers
who also had a penchant for drinking really good wines—they didn’t
like the rough stuff. This holy trinity of meticulous record keeping,
observational prowess, and fondness for fine wine led to them identifying
the best vineyard sites.
The monks precisely delineated more than 1200 vineyard plots, known as
climats, that consistently produced distinctive wines. These
delineations were usually based on specific geological and climatic
conditions that influenced the growth of the grape vines, and thus the
resulting wine. These guys understood the importance of "terroir" long
before it became a buzzword in the wine world. It’s these
climats identified by the monks that form the basis of Grand Cru and
Permier Cru designations in Burgundy today. Thanks Monks!
A really good red Burgundy is not just a wine, but an experience steeped in history, tradition, and an almost spiritual connection to the land. You may never be fortunate enough to taste a bottle of DRC but there’s some great Grand Cru and Premier Cru wines out there so you can partake in a legacy that has been carefully crafted over centuries or, actually millennia.
Four sublime, bucket list worthy, red Burgundies that shouldn't break the bank
- Domein Faiveley Domaine de la Croix Jacquelet, Mercurey, Cote Chalonnaise
- Albert Bichot Chateau Gris Monopole, Nuits-Staint-Georges Premier Cru
- Domaine Marquis d'Angerville Clos des Ducs, Volnay Premier Cru
- Louis Jadot Lavaux Saint-Jacques, Gevrey-Chambertin Premier Cru