Masterclass highlights Bourgogne’s best value wines

Village-level Bourgogne can be accessibly priced but you have to go “off the beaten track”, a masterclass in Oxford last month helped to prove.

Michelle Cherutti-Kowal MW led the masterclass on “Accessible Bourgogne”, which was held in Oxford, within the Examination Schools

It’s the holy grail of many a wine buyer – finding great value white and red from Bourgogne, the source of the world’s most expensive wines – and a masterclass in the heart of Oxford on March 31 set out to help wine professionals on this quest.

Called “Discovering Accessible Bourgogne Wines”, the event was led by wine educator Michelle Cherutti-Kowal MW, and featured a range of labels from less famous appellations within the region, including villages along the prized Côte d’Or, which she selected to show that Bourgogne can be accessible.

Addressing attendees of the masterclass, Michelle said, “What’s your impression of wines from Bourgogne – expensive? Yes – but what we want to try and do is really show you that there are accessible areas, and to do that we have picked out some wines that are a bit off the beaten track, wines that offer interest and value for money from the 2012, ’13 and ’14 vintages.”

In essence, Bourgogne is renowned for treasures such as Meursault, Puligny-Montrachet, Gevrey-Chambertin, and Romanée Conti, but it is also home to a host of other appellations.

In fact there are as many as 100 AOCs in the region, many of which are available at more accessible price points, such as Charnay-lès-Mâcon and Pernand-Vergelesses for whites, and for reds, Monthélie and Santenay – all of which featured in the masterclass (The full list of wines can be seen below).

Michelle urged attendees to explore the full range of Burgundy’s appellations to discover “hidden gems”; wines that are delicious, but, because they are lesser known, accessibly priced. She also pointed out that some of these wines are whites from villages more famous for reds, and vice versa.

Michelle shall be repeating this introduction to ‘Accessible Bourgogne’ elsewhere in the UK, with the following masterclasses scheduled for 2016:

You can register your interest in any of these sessions here.

Finally, you will notice that this report refers to Bourgogne, not its anglicised form, Burgundy. That’s because the region’s regulatory body is keen that this special place be called by its correct name in all events and reports regarding the area.

The following wines featured in the masterclass in Oxford, and will also be shown in future events in Birmingham, Edinburgh and Liverpool:

Whites

Bourgogne Chitry, 2014, Caves Bailly-Lapierre
Charnay-lès-Mâcon, Clos des Tournons, 2014, Domaine Catherine & Didier Tripoz
Savigny-lès-Beaune, 2013, Domaine Du Prieure – JM Maurice
Givry 1er Cru, Champs Lalot, 2013, Domaine Michel Sarrazin & Fils
Pernand-Vergelesses 1er Cru, Sous Frétille, 2012, Domaine Des Terregelesses

Reds

Bourgogne Côtes d’Auxerre, Cuvée Louis Bersan, 2013, Domaine JL et JC Bersan
Monthélie, 2013, Domaine Brigitte Berthelemot 
Auxey-Duresses 1er Cru, Clos du Val, 2012, Domaine Michel Prunier & Fille
Mercurey 1er Cru, Les Velley, 2013, Domaine Tupinier-Bautista 
Santenay 1er Cru, Clos Rousseau, 2013, Domaine Bachey Legros

Michelle urged attendees to explore the full range of Burgundy’s appellations to discover “hidden gems”