Pommard
Domaine Parent. Claude Parent, winemaker, can be traced back through the parish register to the seventeenth century. In 1787, his ancestor Etienne Parent becomes friends with Thomas Jefferson, an enlightened wine amateur. In Pomone territory, goddess of fruit, the future president of the United States promotes Pommards, Parent and exports his wine to the New World. Anne and Catherine uphold the adventure across all continents. The pinot noir vine plant expresses itself on red chalky clay soil. It gives full bodied wines with complex flavours. It expresses itself fully as their Volnay first growth, the Clos des Chênes, a red with a striking colour and aromas of Morello cherries, the Beaune first growth, Les Epinottes, delicately spicy, and the very rare white supple and mineral Corton. Tel.: +33 3 80 22 15 08 www.domaine-parent-bourgogne.com
Les Domaines de Pommard 15 Pommard winemakers created their own shop in 1989. In just one place different vintages and local wines are for sale. A frontispiece, which represents the prestigious appellation. Place de L’Europe. Tel.: +33 3 80 24 17 20
Château de Pommard. A prestigious name in the wine world and the largest private vineyard in Burgundy, where the art of receiving has been passed down since the seventeeth century. A different world, where for the past three centuries ,wine is a religion and bottles and oak casks rest and age. A trip to the cellars is a tribute to pinot noir. Pommard is also an international art and culture centre. In the gallery: Pop Art, Dali sculptures, works both conceptual and out of doors, sculptures soaring to the sky on a background of vineyard. www.chateaudepommard.com
Auprès du Clocher. Jean Christophe Moutet finally settled and opened his own modern decorated restaurant in a former winemaker’s house, having previously worked and polished his reputation under great chefs. Seasonal and regional menus, traditional dishes made lighter and simpler. A wine list promoting Pommard. Tel.: +33 3 80 22 21 79 www.aupresduclocher.com
Le Clos du Colombier. At the foot of the vineyards, this handsome bed and breakfast house borrowed its name from a monopoly. A precious plot in Pommard appelation running alongside the garden. To allow them to discover the region, Veronique and Philippe Barthelmebs have a list of secret addresses they share with their guests. Tel.: +33 3 80 22 00 27 www.closducolombier.com
Levernois
Hostellerie de Levernois. Rolls, Jaguar, Ferrari luxury cars drop off rich, elegant and foreign clients wishing to discover the Burgundy region in the very best conditions. Hidden in wooden parkland, Jean-Louis Bottigliero has cemented the international reputation of this fine white house, a Relais & Châteaux, since he took it over. Together with his wife, Suzanne, Jean-Louis, a true hotel proprietor, has succeeded in injecting life into, refreshing and inventing many new schemes to promote Burgundy and its wines. The setting is enthralling. The Park is divine. The Bistrot au Bord de L’eau is always full. Tel.: +33 3 80 24 73 58 Tel.: 03 80 24 73 58. www.levernois.com
La Garaudière. Not far away, in the village, one can dine in a festive and gourmet manner at Mr and Mrs Guillemot’s restaurant. A pretty house filled with flowers, tables in the garden where food is grilled on a wood stove, and they serve filling regional dishes. All one needs for a pleasant, no fuss evening. Tel.: +33 3 80 22 47 70
Puligny-Montrachet
Le Domaine Leflaive. Puligny and Chassagne have Montrachet in common. The vineyard goes back 2000 years when the church in Puligny was given to the Cluny Abbey. Vintages and climate are well known and sought out since the Middle-Ages. The authority on Burgundy wine is Anne-Claude who has run the 24 hectares estate since 1994. Chardonnay is King. Helped by her management team and Francois Bouchet, a consultant in biodynamic agriculture, Anne Claude is strict and ethical about her wines. Whilst respecting the natural balance of nature, the vine’s immunity is strengthened by using biodynamical preparations made up from nettles, yarrow and chamomile. The wines benefit by improving structure, depth, minerality and transparency. Puligny-montrachet in first growth: Les Folatières, Les Combettes, Les Pucelles and a Blagny first growth, Sous le Dos d’Ane that one can find at the wine merchants in Nuits Saint-Georges and Beaune. The estate is not open to visitors. Tel.: +33 3 80 21 30 13 www.leflaive.fr
Land and Wine School. A society founded by well-known names in the Burgundy wine trade, of which Anne-Claude Leflève is president. The idea behind it is that everyone should be able to access better and correct knowledge on both wine and vine from an ecological view point. Small conferences are organised all year round, with remarkable guest speakers. Tel.: +33 3 80 21 44 61 www.ecolevinterroir.org
Olivier Leflaive’s Vineyard
An initiation and a fascinating break at the heart of fine Burgundy wines. The Maison d’Olivier, an eighteenth century building in Pouilly-Montrachet offers glass by the wine and local fare in a fun, welcoming, convivial setting. Praise goes out to Olivier, the trilby wearing, dynamic wine maker. We grant him the prize for high class wine tourism. The programme is such fun: strolls in vineyards, visits to cellars, oenological workshops, tastings. His restaurant is a ‘must’ visit. Meals are served accompanied by tastings of the best vintages, throughout which the wine waiter explains the history and heritage of the wines on offer. A Meursault, Casse Tête, complex and well bred, which is grown on complex stony soil. The discovery of the Pernaud Vergelesse, a Grand Cru Corton Charlemagne, complex and mineral. A vineyard planted by the Emperor Charlemagne in 775, later be given to the Saulieu Abbey. The monks were happy and so are we! Tel.: +33 3 80 21 95 27 www.olivier-leflaive.com
Chassagne-Montrachet
Château de Chassagne-Montrachet, Michel Picard’s Place.
And what a place! There is happiness in the vineyards and well-being is in the château. Michel’s daughter, Francine, an epicurean and aesthete has achieved an irreproachable atmosphere and Burgundy lifestyle within the châteaux’ walls. She is happy to recall that her grandfather, Louis Félix was a mere home distiller and wine merchant, driving a Peugeot tricycle, (the machine stands proudly at the entrance of the estate). From only two hectares of vineyard, the Maison Picard, founded in 1951, has progressed to 135 hectares, of which 100 are in Côte Chalonnaise en Mercurey, Mercurey first growth and Rully. The remainder is to be found in Côte de Beaune, St-Aubin, Puligny-Chassagne and a little Corton. Dream appelations, one of which a first growth Chassagne-Montrachet, Les Chaumées 2009, a flagship of the estate. Wine and heritage, the magnificent eleventh and fourteenth century vaulted cellars are candle lit. The tasting table offers wines from the château along with local produce. Strolls around the vineyards to discover its climate are also organised. Wine and art, Francine is forever thinking up new wine tourism and artistic ideas to make one’s stay at the château the most enjoyable. Designer furniture is to be found in the bedrooms and drawing rooms throughout the château, whilst the walls are covered with temporary exhibitions of contemporary artists. Tel: +33 3 80 21 98 57 www.michelpicard.com
Abbaye de Morgeot. The Duke of Magenta’s vineyard. It was the monks of Citeaux who planted the Morgeot Abbey vineyards around 1150. In the fifteenth century, the French King’s troops devastated the village in retaliation for their faithfulness to Marie, last duchess of Burgundy. Only the chapel and bread oven remain from the abbey. In the 1960s, Philippe, ninth Marquis of Mac-Mahon, fourth Duke of Magenta, bought the estate and stapled the reputation of its Puligny-Montrachet blends, La Garenne first growth and Chassagne-Montrachet, first growth, Abbaye de Morgeot. Today, his Scottish widow, the Duchess Amélie of Mac Mahon, inhabits the château of Sully between Beaune and Autun and runs the estate, with the help of a cellar master. A memorable place, with cellars, store room and tastings. Open to visits every Saturday from 14.00 – 18.00 between Easter and All Saints day. www.abbayedemorgeot.com
Meursault
Château de Meursault. Originally in the eleventh century, the château was granted to an equerry of the Capetian Robert the First, Duke of Burgundy. Some of the cellars to be found underneath the castle were dug by the Citeaux monks in the twelfth century. It was in the ownership of many illustrious families up until the Revolution. Now it is in private hands and is one of the most visited properties in the Côte d’Or, it has 60 hectares of vineyards spread out around the château in more than 100 plots situated in the best climates. The range of wine is extensive, having ownership over Grands Crus and Villages vintages. As a white or a red, the Meursault from the Château, gathered from several plots with different soils gives a mineral and pure white wine. Le Pommard, Clos des Epenots first growth, a supple and fine Pommard, where the pinot expresses itself fully. Visit the former Orangery turned into a modern art gallery, the cellars and outbuildings, winding up in the châteaux’ old kitchens for a tasting session. Tel.: +33 3 80 26 22 75 www.meursault.com
Les Champs Lins. Vincent Girardin, a young wine maker whose trade he inherited from his Santenay ancestors dating back to the seventeenth century. After many adventures in the world of wine and wine making, Vincent followed the sun to Meursault where he has 20 hectares of vineyards made up of 42 plots spread over eight areas of Côte de Beaune, very fine wines. Tel.: +33 3 80 20 81 00 www.vincentgirardin.com
