Burgandy Question

[Andy G]

Is it legal to add either oaks chips / sugar to the must/ or natural fruit essences to Grand Crus Burgundy
Thanks

[winoweenie]

It's my understanding that Chaptilization is allowed for all of Bordeauxs' wines. WW

[wondersofwine]

Burgundy is a cool-climate region (except for exceptionally hot summers like 2003) so chapitalization is allowed. I think there are some regulations or restrictions on how it is done. I'm not sure about the Grand Cru wines. If you don't get a definitive answer here on this question, you might pose the same question on [url=http://www.winesloverspage.com.]www.winesloverspage.com.[/url]
Or look at this same thread tomorrow. I have Clive Coates' book "Cote d'Or" at home which has a lot of technical information in the front part of the book and it may have the answer you are seeking. My guess would be no oak chips and possibly chapitalization is allowed in some vintages.

[Thomas]

You took the bait.

[wondersofwine]

Clive Coates says in his book that chapitalization is allowed up to the level that would increase the alcohol of the wine by 2 degrees (such as from 11.5% to 13.5%). He doesn't say that Grand Cru wines are an exception so I believe they are permitted to use either chapitalization or acidification but not both. He also said the winemaker can now add sugar in stages where formerly they had to add it all at once at the beginning of fermentation.

[Thomas]

WOW, you are not understanding me.

[wondersofwine]

No, I am not Foodie.

[Thomas]

This seems either a riddle or a question for a class, along with the Champagne thread.

[wondersofwine]

I didn't notice at first that it was the same guy posting as the Champagne question.

[Thomas]

So WOW, he has said on the Champagne thread that it is for an MW diploma. They get paid who run the program in the UK, and KC gives him the answers for free...something's wrong with that line!

Maybe we should develop an online MW program through wines.com. Hey, Jackie. That sounds like a possibility.

[This message has been edited by foodie (edited 01-07-2005).]

[wineguruchgo]

Andy G,

Why not just do a google search yourself? In the amount of time that it takes someone here to see your post and answer it you could have your answer already.

Gentlemen of the board,

Not to worry. The test for the MW is brutal - 5,000 word essays on a myriad of subjects. If Andy G does the work he will pass. If not, well...I guess he'll be back for more answers!

A Typical Question for the MW is:


Examine the differences between biodynamic cultivation, organic cultivation, lutte raisonnee and other forms of minimum intervention, using examples from both Old and New World regions.

This was from the 2002 examiniation.

Yep. It's a lot of work and if Mr. G is asking these questions he's just beginning.