Bourgogne Chardonnay: Flavor Profile, 4 Wine Picks & Wine Tips

Bourgogne Chardonnay, also known as Bourgogne Blanc, is one of the best white wines in the world. French wine lovers enjoy these fantastic wines because of their excellent reputation, quality, and memorable taste. Drinking Bourgogne chardonnay puts you in good company – the Dukes of Burgundy also enjoyed this wine. Keep reading to find out what this wine tastes like, specific wine suggestions, and answers to common questions.

Bourgogne Chardonnay

Bourgogne Chardonnay Definition

One point to clarify before going further: what does Bourgogne mean? You may see this word on wine bottles and not know what it means. This is the French word for Burgundy, one of Europe’s most famous wine regions. It refers to the Burgundy wine region, located southeast of Paris. Dijon is the principal city of Burgundy. The phrase “Bourgogne Chardonnay” means a white chardonnay wine from the French wine region of Burgundy.

Burgundian Chardonnay Flavor Profile

Before buying Burgundian wines, you might wonder what to expect in terms of taste. While there is a wide range of winemakers, there are some common characteristics in most Bourgogne chardonnay wine.

Burgundy Chardonnay wines typically have an apple aroma. Fruit flavors include citrus flavor (e.g., lemon), apple, pear, plum, and quince are typical. Sometimes, the apple flavors may be described as green apple, green apple skin, or yellow apple. In addition to fruity notes, wine drinkers sometimes notice floral notes such as notes of honey.

The Burgundian style of winemaking is different from wines made elsewhere. In the United States and Canada, it is common to focus on the wine grape as the most crucial aspect of the wine. In France – including Burgundy – the place is considered more important. For example, Burgundy’s Côte De Beaune area is known for its elegant wine, aging potential, and high quality. In addition to place, Burgundy winemakers often use malolactic fermentation, which reduces tart green apple flavours.

White Burgundy: Top Wine Picks Under $100

Finding a good bottle of white Burgundy doesn’t require a huge budget. If you can spend between $20 to $50 for a bottle, you can explore the wonders of this French wine region. If you fall in love with Burgundy white wines, make sure you eventually try a cru Chardonnay from the region.

Maison Chanzy, $25

This buttery Chardonnay offers 12.5% alcohol content and pairs well with turkey and chicken dishes. The fresh acidity in the wine stands out. The winemaker has also won recognition from the Decanter World Wine Awards in the past decade.

Domaine Anton Guyon , $100+

This wine estate has an outstanding reputation in the well-respected Côte d’Or area of Burgundy. The Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru wine has earned exceptional scores from Wine Advocate and Wine Spectator. This 13.5% alcohol wine is a great choice when you want to celebrate with a bottle of exceptional wine.

Domaine Roux, $34

Commonly known as Roux Père & Fils Chardonnay Bourgogne, this family-owned winery has been in production since 1995. The wine is respected for its oaky notes like butter and villa. In addition, you can expect to include apple, peach, and citrus fruit flavors in the glass.

Domaine Chenevieres, $28

Located in the Chablis appellation of Burgundy, this medium-bodied Chardonnay pairs very well with seafood dishes. The flavor profile includes apple, pear, and mandarin orange. The wine has 12.5% alcohol by volume.

Food Pairings For Bourgogne Chardonnay

Take these food suggestions with a grain of salt. While these food pairings can enhance your enjoyment of the wine, your preferences also matter. If you want to drink Chardonnay with steak, go right ahead!

1) Food Made In Buttery Styles

Burgundy chardonnay pairs beautifully with many butter-heavy dishes. Some popular options include fish cooked in butter and a creamy sauce like hollandaise sauce. Other cream-based sauces can also work well, but I avoid anything with significant spice levels.

2) Shell Fish Dishes

Wine wines and white fish are traditional wine pairings. A bottle of Burgundian Chardonnay usually pairs the best with shellfish kinds of seafood like a crab. Cream-based sauces can take your dining experience to the next level.

If you’re interested in eating seafood dishes with wine, check out my post on the best wine with salmon or try something a bit different – red wine with sushi.

3) Cheese Pairings

The ideal cheese pairing for a white Burgundy depends on whether the wine is oaked or unoaked. With an unoaked Chardonnay from Burgundy, goat cheese, Gouda, and Havarti are all excellent choices. In contrast, oaked Chardonnay wines pair better with cheddar, brie, camembert, and Gouda.

4) Mushrooms

White Burgundy wines also pair well with mushroom dishes. For a local experience, try making mushrooms Burgundy. Alternately, a mushroom-heavy dish like a soup or a vegetarian pot pie also pairs well with a glass of Burgundy Chardonnay.

5) White Meats

Combining white wines and meats like chicken and pork have a long history in cuisine. This food-wine pairing works particularly well when you use a creamy sauce. Before you eat, take a moment to appreciate the subtle aromas of the wine and how that compares with your meal. Taking time to enjoy a wine’s aromas is essential to learning the art of wine appreciation.

How Burgundy Wine Is Influenced By Climate

Unlike Bordeaux, Burgundy is a continental climate known for its hot summers. The excellent website Bourgogne-wines points out that Burgundian winemakers have multiple climate variations. In the northern part of the wine region, there is a cool climate. Toward the south of Burgundy, you start to see Mediterranean weather.

These climate differences directly influence the wine in your wine glass. Warmer climates are more common in southern Burgundy, so the wine grapes tend to be harvested earlier and have a higher level of alcohol. In comparison, Petit Chablis is different – it has a more acidic style which can be pretty refreshing.

Frequently Asked Questions

Learning the art of wine tasting is easier when you know a few facts about the wine you’re tasting. As you enjoy your next glass of Burgundy’s fantastic wines, remember these facts at your next dinner with friends.

Is Burgundy wine a Chardonnay?

Burgundy is a wine region, while Chardonnay is a grape variety. If you see a “white Burgundy” listed on a menu, it is probably a Chardonnay.

Is Chardonnay from Burgundy oaked?

It depends! You can undoubtedly find oaky notes and producers that use French oak barrels if you enjoy oak-aged Chardonnay. However, oak barrels are not universally used – stainless steel vats are also standard. Find out more about the delights of unoaked Chardonnay in my guide to unoaked Chardonnay.

What type of grape is white Burgundy?

White Burgundy wine is traditionally made from the Chardonnay wine grape.

What is Bourgogne famous for?

Burgundy is famous for two types of wine: Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. Wine collectors and enthusiasts pay hundreds or thousands of dollars for the region’s outstanding Pinot Noir. That said, you can easily find affordable and expensive bottles from Burgundy. It’s wise to try a few less expensive bottles before you splurge for a high-end wine.

Bourgogne Chardonnay In Summary

The white wines of Burgundy are known for their citrus notes and apple notes. In some cases, these white wines are aged in oak. You can also find many unoaked Chardonnay wines in Burgundy. These wines pair well with white meats, shellfish, and mushroom dishes.

Bourgogne Chardonnay: Flavor Profile, 4 Wine Picks & Wine Tips
Scroll to top