
Cote d'Or
The Wines and Winemakers of the Heart of Burgundy
Raymond Blake(Author)
ACADEMIE DU VIN LIBRARY LIMITED (Publisher)
2nd Edition
Published on 19. May 2025
Book
Paperback/Softback
360 pages
978-1-913141-94-3 (ISBN)
Description
"This is Blake's beat, and this fully revised and updated edition of his comprehensive guide to the region will undoubtedly become the foremost guide to its history, geology, winemakers, and delicious wines." - The Irish Sun
"...This review is really just to reiterate that every Burgundy lover or student who does not have this book should have it. And, I'm sorry to say, if you were wise enough to buy the first edition, you need to complement it with the second edition." - Jancis Robinson
The Cote d'Or may be small in size but its influence is huge and its reputation alone can intimidate even the most seasoned wine professional. Divided into two halves, the Cote de Nuits and the Cote de Beaune, it is little more than a 30-mile stretch of vineyard but some of the world's best known - and most expensive - wines are produced here. Of all the world's wine regions it is here that terroir pushes itself to the fore, explaining the eye-watering prices paid for even the most modest parcels of vineyard.
Raymond Blake's companionable Cote d'Or demystifies this notoriously complicated region, explaining succinctly the history of winemaking in this part of Burgundy, the complexity of the subdivided vineyards and the special role played by geology and climate in the creation of these wines. Visiting a selection of notable producers, Blake provides his take on each, along with a suggestion of that winemaker's most distinctive or interesting wine for readers to try. After a rundown of the characteristics of each vintage from the last 30 years, and notes on some outstanding earlier vintages, Blake considers what the future might hold for the cote, including the challenges posed by premature oxidation, extreme weather and world events. He ends the book by providing some ideas to help those planning a trip to the region get the most out of their visit.
This fresh take on one of the world's most influential wine regions is an essential addition to the library of any burgundy enthusiast.
"...This review is really just to reiterate that every Burgundy lover or student who does not have this book should have it. And, I'm sorry to say, if you were wise enough to buy the first edition, you need to complement it with the second edition." - Jancis Robinson
The Cote d'Or may be small in size but its influence is huge and its reputation alone can intimidate even the most seasoned wine professional. Divided into two halves, the Cote de Nuits and the Cote de Beaune, it is little more than a 30-mile stretch of vineyard but some of the world's best known - and most expensive - wines are produced here. Of all the world's wine regions it is here that terroir pushes itself to the fore, explaining the eye-watering prices paid for even the most modest parcels of vineyard.
Raymond Blake's companionable Cote d'Or demystifies this notoriously complicated region, explaining succinctly the history of winemaking in this part of Burgundy, the complexity of the subdivided vineyards and the special role played by geology and climate in the creation of these wines. Visiting a selection of notable producers, Blake provides his take on each, along with a suggestion of that winemaker's most distinctive or interesting wine for readers to try. After a rundown of the characteristics of each vintage from the last 30 years, and notes on some outstanding earlier vintages, Blake considers what the future might hold for the cote, including the challenges posed by premature oxidation, extreme weather and world events. He ends the book by providing some ideas to help those planning a trip to the region get the most out of their visit.
This fresh take on one of the world's most influential wine regions is an essential addition to the library of any burgundy enthusiast.
Reviews / Votes
Blake, somehow, without losing the gravitas of fact and classroom, has injected colour and emotion. He has a wonderful way of describing things, from the 'stony sinew' of quarries connecting Cote de Nuits to Cotes de Beaune, to the 'choir balcony' of Chassagne-Montrachet's grand cru vineyards, standing just a little apart from the commune ... The burgundies he loves ''like poetry, can be returned to again and again when another shade or nuance of flavour is discovered'. - Tamlyn Currin, jancisrobinson.com Raymond Blake's wonderfully descriptive volume on the Cote d'Or is one of my favourite reads of the year. Almost all you need to know about one of the world's great wine regions is between the covers. - Mathew Nugent, The Irish Sun Without doubt THE best introduction to Burgundy's most famous vineyards. Highly enjoyable. - Matthew Nugent, The Irish Sun This is an indispensible book, the perfect fireside read, whether you need help choosing a few bottles, or planning a trip to Burgundy. Needless to say, it would make the perfect Christmas gift for the wine lover in your life. - John Wilson, The Irish times The book delights for the charm, elegance, and conviction of Blake's prose-concise, informative, and leavened by abundant Wildean wit ... Supremely, this is a work of distinguished literary merit. It is also very readable, a real page-turner. Bravo! - Michael Edwards, The World of Fine Wine, issue 59 "I reviewed Blake's first edition of this book quite thoroughly in 2018, so check that out because it covers a lot of ground and all the very positive things I said then still apply. This review is really just to reiterate that every Burgundy lover or student who does not have this book should have it. And, I'm sorry to say, if you were wise enough to buy the first edition, you need to complement it with the second edition." - Jancis RobinsonMore details
Series
Edition
2nd edition
Language
English
Place of publication
United Kingdom
Illustrations
20 Illustrations, black and white; 40 Illustrations, color
Dimensions
Height: 231 mm
Width: 155 mm
Thickness: 30 mm
Weight
508 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-913141-94-3 (9781913141943)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Previous edition

Book
09/2017
Infinite Ideas Limited
€63.40
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Person
Raymond Blake is one of Ireland's leading wine writers. His enthusiasm for wine is boundless; as an independent voice his judgement is widely respected. As wine editor of Food & Wine Magazine, a position he has held since its launch in 1997, his travels take him to the far-flung corners of the wine world, though his spiritual home is Burgundy. He writes for numerous other publications and is a member of the Circle of Wine Writers. In 2006 he was inducted as a Chevalier du Tastevin in Burgundy.
Content
Acknowledgements ix
Introduction 1
1 A brief history to 1985 5
2 Vineyards and viticulture 18
3 Producing burgundy 47
4 The villages and producers of the Cote de Nuits 64
5 The villages and producers of the Cote de Beaune 157
6 Recent vintages - enjoying burgundy 256
7 The Cote d'Or today 275
8 Visiting the Cote d'Or 289
Glossary 298
Bibliography 301
Index 305
Introduction 1
1 A brief history to 1985 5
2 Vineyards and viticulture 18
3 Producing burgundy 47
4 The villages and producers of the Cote de Nuits 64
5 The villages and producers of the Cote de Beaune 157
6 Recent vintages - enjoying burgundy 256
7 The Cote d'Or today 275
8 Visiting the Cote d'Or 289
Glossary 298
Bibliography 301
Index 305