Bourgogne Tonnerre is the title given to white Bourgogne wines from the communes of Dannemoine, Epineuil, Junay, Molosmes, Vezinnes and Tonnerre, located 10 miles (16km) east of Chablis in northern Burgundy. Epineuil also has its own specific Epineuil appellation to cover its red and rosé wines.
Bourgogne Tonnere wine is made exclusively from Chardonnay grapes. Created in July 2006, the title is the most recent addition to the growing list of location-specific Bourgogne appellations; Bourgogne Haute Cotes de Nuits and Bourgogne Haute Cotes de Beaune are the oldest and most widely known examples.
The original vines were planted here in the ninth century and flourished until the phylloxera outbreak of the late 1800s. After this time, the Bourgogne Tonnerre area experienced nearly a century of viticultural dormancy, until local grape growers began to redevelop it in the late 1980s.
Like those of Chablis, Bourgogne Tonnerre wines are dry in style and lightly aromatic; the best of them have a hint of minerality to complement the floral, fruity notes. The similarity between Tonnerre and Chablis wines is not only due to the use of Chardonnay grapes, but also results from the local terroir. Chalky, limestone-rich Kimmeridgian soils, combined with a marginal continental climate, lead to freshly flavored wines with crisp acidity.
