The heart of Burgundy, the Cote D'Or, produces Pinot Noir and Chardonnay wines that are unrivaled in their quality, intensity, and ability to age in the bottle. On this 'golden slope' in eastern France, with its unique terrains and climats, grow the vines for some of the world's finest wines, among them such heralded names as Gevrey-Chambertin, Vosne-Romanee, Puligny- and Chassagne-Montrachet, and Aloxe-Corton. Clive Coates, Master of Wine, has spent much of the last fifteen years in the Cote D'Or, and this book is the splendid result of his assiduous exploring, tasting, and assessing of the region's wines. With his unique access to each clos and domaine, and to individual negociants and vignerons, Coates may know more about the Cote D'Or and its wines than any other living writer. In Part One, he describes the Cote D'Or's famous villages, introduces every manor grower and his wines, and evaluates each grand and premier cru, recommending the best sources in every climat. Part Two profiles the top sixty domaines, with notes on a vertical tasting of one of their wines. Part Three consists of vintage assessments on the best red and white years since 1945 and includes thousands of detailed tasting notes. "Cote D'Or" is a work of love and passion, praise and criticism, understanding and scholarship. Above all, it is a celebration of one of the world's great wine regions, the people who live there, and their fabled wines. It is an essential addition to every wine library and an inviting read for any wine lover.
