2012 Albert Ponnelle Bourgogne Réserve de la Chèvre Noire Pinot Noir

Albert Ponnelle is an estate and a negociant with deep roots in Burgundy. Pierre-Lazare Ponnelle founded the business in Beaune in 1870, and today the estate is run by Pierre Ponnelle, the fifth generation of the family to take the helm. Albert Ponnelle owns vineyards in Côte de Beaune Village and Premier Cru appellations, and the estate also vinifies and bottles red and white Burgundy from other appellations, including several Grand Crus. The Bourgogne Réserve de la Chèvre Noire wines come from the Côte de Beaune and Côte de Nuits. They are partly aged in oak barrels. The names of the wines are an affectionate nod to an old regional tale about a famous black goat known for drifting from the herd to snack on choice grapes in the best vineyards. Each year Albert Ponnelle creates a Chardonnay and a Pinot Noir under the Chèvre Noir label as an homage to the black goat with a connoisseur’s taste.

Burgundy in eastern France is, if not the most famous and storied wine region in the world, certainly one of the top two or three. Its winemaking history dates from the Roman era, and its relatively small size and reputation for outstanding wines means that the best wines of Burgundy are generally among the world’s most prized – and costly – wines. At about 110,000 vineyards acres, Burgundy is only 40% as big as Bordeaux, and its system of dividing up vineyards into small, family-owned parcels makes understanding the wines of Burgundy a life-long pursuit for Burgundy enthusiasts. The three main grapes of Burgundy are Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Gamay. Burgundy is a long, narrow, north-south running region consisting of five main areas. They are Chablis in the north, Côte D’Or, Côte Chalonnaise, Mâconnais and Beaujolais, which is just above the Rhone Valley. Pinot Noir and Chardonnay are grown throughout most of Burgundy but Gamay is grown primarily in Beaujolais. The appellation system and rules about labeling can be confusing and the system classifies regions, villages and even individual vineyards. Grand Cru is the most prestigious appellation category, followed by Premier Cru and many village and regional appellations.

This red wine is relatively light and can pair with a wide variety of foods. The grape prefers cooler climates and the wine is most often associated with Burgundy, Champagne and the U.S. west coast. Regional differences make it nearly as fickle as it is flexible.