"Hot" Wines raising concerns

Via CNN:

As wine growers are getting better at their craft, they tend to leave the grapes on the vines for longer into the season. This greatly increases the complexity of the wines produced, but also tends to bump up the sugar content. More sugar means more food for the little yeasties to feed on, which then raises the alcohol content of wines. Today it is not unusual to see a wine over 14% alcohol, with some over a whopping 16%.

Technology exists that will allow a winemaker to reduce the amount of alcohol in a wine (it's called Vinovation) but many resist this, feeling that the market would rather bear stronger wines than having a wine that has been "touched" by technology.

Personally, I think I might prefer to taste the wine, rather than the spiciness of the alcohol.

Bois de Corton

The Hill of Corton is located at the north end of the Cote de Beaune, which is a small (but famous) wine growing region near Dijon, France. Much of the area to the south of the hill is known for its white wines, but an iron-rich soil combined with favorable sun exposure make the hill home of some of the best wines of the region. Indeed - there are TWO Grand Cru appellations to be found on this single hill, one red and one white!

If you examine the picture above closely you can see the vines used to grow each. On the left side of hill (which is actually the southwestern side of the hill) are vines belonging to the Corton Charlemagne AOC, which produce excellent chardonnays, and to right is le Charlemagne, which is home to the reds.

A humble home to some very special wines!