Hello to all,

Could someone please explain to me what the difference between burgundy/ white burgundy is, as well as merlot/white merlot?

Thank you in advance!

Cheers!

Seriously, these are two different questions...

Burgundy vs. White Burgundy?

Burgundy is a wine-producing region in France. Their red wine (Red Burgundy) is produced from Pinot Noir. Their white wine (White Burgundy) is from the Chardonnay grape.

Merlot vs. White Merlot?

This is akin to the question, "Zinfandel vs. White Zinfandel?"
In both cases, a red grape (Merlot or Zinfandel) is harvested and crushed, and the juice is immediately separated from the skins and seeds, and fermented by a method known as carbonic maceration. Since red wine color comes from the skins staying in contact with the juice during a longer fermentation, very little color gets imparted to the wine made this way. This is why White Merlot (or White Zinfandel) has a light salmon-hued blush to it. These light wines are usually designed with a bit of residual sugar, to stand up to the natural bright acidity. They are simple, easy-drinking party wines, with no ageability.

Cheers!

highdesertwine

Hey Kathleen,

GRAPES are the difference in Burgundy. Burgundy if red, is made from Pinot Noir and white is made from Chardonnay. It is possible to almost make white wine from Pinot Noir but, most white Burgundy is made from Chardonnay.

You didn't ask but, my favorite Chardonnay, is Chablis from France. Chablis is crisper, minerally and usually has lemmon-apples flavors. Very refreshing and great with food.

For the most part French white Burgundy taste less fruity and has less oak toast aroma-flavors then Chardonnay from CA.

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Two very different comparisons. The Burgundy question has already been aptly answered. I suppose the confusion often comes from the color called "burgundy" so people think Burgundy must be reddish when in fact the best thing from Burgundy is 100% chardonnay (especially from Chablis, in my opinion).

BUT, I'm not sure about the white merlot question. It's possible that it is a grape in itself and not analagous to the white zin wines. If anyone knows, please chime in. I think white merlot is a grape used in the region of Cognac.

Passion turns intentions into habits.

This would be a new one for me. Nick - do you mean ugni blanc, of which most cognac is made? I wouldn't describe it as white merlot, that's for sure.

Re: white burgundy not having as much oak as CA chardonnay. Well, that's is a bit controversial (and imprecise), isn't it Monty?

I would certainly say that there are a good number of white burgs that do not exhibit the kind of overt sweet vanilla oaking that is greatly in evidence in CA chards. Many white burgs also never see the inside of a barrle too.

However, to say that they are not toasty is absurd! Some of the finest Montrachets exhibit a kind of smokey, toasty aromas that are, IMO, some of the most profound and beautiful aromas one can find in wine. If only a more deft hand was put to some of California's better wines, I would become a buyer...

BirD

I came here for a good argument!

AH, no you didn't, you came here for an argument!

Somewhere in some list of grapes, I feel like I saw the term "white merlot" for possible blending in Cognac. I had never heard of it either, and did not bother pursuing it.

Passion turns intentions into habits.

White merlot is exactly as highdesertwine described. It's not a grape, but a process. If you like white zin, you'll like white merlot.

I've had Merlot Rose!!

Has averybody forgotten that Burgundy also makes red wine from Gamay and white wine from Aligote? Thought so.

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PS Nick--WM is made the same as WZ

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Member #19

There is a grape called Merlot Blanc. It is very obscure and is used in white wine blends in France and is probably unrelated to the Merlot grape.

White Merlot is as highdesertwine said.

Don't forget Sauvignon Blanc.

Killer

Yes, but both Gamay (yuck) and Aligote (ick) are really not worth the mention.

Damn, now you made me mention them.

Sauv blanc in Burg? Come on, that's new world nonesense.

I came here for a good argument!

AH, no you didn't, you came here for an argument!

This is the AC that grows sauvignon blanc in Burgundy.

There is also pinot blanc grown in Burgundy, but I cannot recall where.

thanks, I received some white merlot as a gift- wasn't sure what it was supposed to taste like. As many have mentioned, it was similar to a white zin, a little more dry than what I am used to. Not completely unpleasant, but also not the best wine I have ever drank.

Cheers!