EXPLORING THE ‘ROUTES DES GRANDS CRUS’
Members of the Japan Club of Geneva returned to Burgundy to explore the famous ‘Route des Grands Crus’ in the Côte d’Or on the weekend of 16 and 17 June. On a perfect spring day, club members were guided through pictoresque villages, each evoking some of the most fabulous wines of this historic region. Starting at Gevrey-Chambertin, we stopped often to take in the landscapes, from Clos Vougeot to Corton. Vignerons were working in their vines, trimming and weeding between the rows. The future bunches of grapes were already visible in miniature. At the cellar of Jean-Luc MALDANT, partner of Phoenix Wine club, just back from New York, we tasted the wines he provides to the Club.
A walk through the vineyards of Beaune, including those of the Hospices de Beaune, gave us a chance to see how each vigneron applied his ideas in the search for top quality. Antoine Roméro explained the stages of the preparation, always labour-intensive. What better idea for us than to open a bottle of Phoenix Wine Club Beaune as we finished our walk through those same vineyards!
Returning via Pommard, Meusault and Puligny-Montrachet, to the Chateau de Saint Germain, where the park had never looked more beautiful on this Spring day, members pursued their tasting of the Club’s European range of fine Burgundy wines. We began in the tasting room of the Chateau’s centuries-old basement, and continued over dinner with a surprise – Pintade de Bresse aux abricots– which married perfectly with our Volnays and Pommards. The evening concluded with Corton Grand Cru, and the traditional champagne.
The following morning, members returned with Antoine to Beaune to visit the Caves Patriarches, and their extensive galleries of cellars under the town, before returning to Geneva.