Life’s too short to drink bad wine, so the saying goes!
Today we are going to look at “terroir” and talk about what it involves. We are looking at two wines, one from France and one from Australia which epitomise the region that they are produced in. We’ll talk about why and where….
2014 Meursault Andre Goichot €35.00
Stockist: SuperValu
Producers in Burgundy talk about their “climats” and “lieux-dits” with religious fervour. To the un-initiated, these mystical descriptions can seem daunting; realistically they are just describing the lay of the land. The term “climat” is simply the Burgundian definition of “terroir”.
This Burgundian passion for their land was rewarded by UNESCO in July 2015 when they announced that 1,247 named Burgundy vineyards, known as the “Climats de Bourgogne” has been added to the World Heritage Site list.
A "climat" is a specific plot of land with a precisely defined geological and climatic limit which when combined with human intervention helps to create the great red and white wine made in the region. The term “lieux-dit” translates literally as defined location and refers to the specific name of a small plot of land, usually uninhabited, which was named either for an historical event or a geographical characteristic.
For many years the terms “climat” and “lieu-dit” have been used without distinction in Burgundy but there is a difference. For example, it is possible to have several “lieux-dits” within a single “climat” or to have a “climat” which only covers part of a given “lieux-dit”.
This is VERY important to know if you visit Burgundy, as literally walking from one field to another can take you from the ordinary to the extraordinary in terms of wine quality. Today these named “climats” and “lieu-dits” are associated with some of the most sought after wines in the world.
Nowhere in the Cote de Beaune does Chardonnay better than Meursault. The grapes are grown on hard Colmblanchian limestone in this village appellation.. The appellation includes 21 Premier Cru climats. This wine is full of butter, honey and citrus fruits with a little touch of hazelnut. If you’re going to push the boat out then go the whole way and enjoy this wine with grilled lobster or king prawns.
2012 Barossa Valley Estate GSM €16.99
Stockist: O’Briens Wines Beers Spirit, Dunnes & independent off licences nationwide
Barossa Valley is one of Australia’s best know red wine regions. A small region north of Adelaide has become one of the world’s best known red wine regions of the modern era.
Barossa is not your average Australian, it has a range of microclimates and this includes a good amount of seasonal rainfall. It has mild daytime temperatures and is cool at night.
One of the most famous single estates in Barossa, the Barossa Valley Estate produces two of Australia’s most famous wines the E&E and Black Pepper Shiraz.
They have recently launched two mid priced wines to their range this one the GSM and a single varietal Shiraz. GSM, (Grenache, Syrah, and Mourvedre) are the same grapes they use the Rhone Valley in the South of France to make some of their more famous wines. Anyone who is a fan of Rhone or Languedoc wines will love this.
The Barossa Valey Estate GSM is made in a delicate lighter style, it has lots of red fruit and a lovely soft juicy finish
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