Burgundy Grands Crus | Jacky Rigaux

From this notion of "terroir", often criticized or misunderstood today, Jacky Rigaux defines "climats" as "carefully demarcated plots, each capable of producing a wine with a strong personality".

It is true that the Burgundy vineyard continues to feign peaceful tranquility by delighting the visitor's eye with these harmonious lines of vines which follow a hillside here, a flat area there... The eye does not suspect the boundaries, to the nearest meter , the subtle divisions, the cleverly orchestrated classifications, which define the vine and the wines that are born from it.

Thus, since the 1930s, the organization of Appellations d'Origine Contrôlée (AOC) has imposed a four-level hierarchy. The Grands Crus are the most prestigious, “the flagship”. The author tells us about those of Burgundy with their history, their legends, their characteristics and what makes them prestigious. This walk starts in Chablis, crosses the Côte de Nuits and ends with the Côte de Beaune. Maps by Sylvain Pitiot, sketches by Michel Campy and photos by Christian Bon accompany the reader in this presentation.

Throughout the pages, each of the 33 Burgundy Grands Crus is in the spotlight and Jacky Rigaux reveals their personality and their complexity with all the subtle nuances of the words that make you want to know them better... a glass in hand!