On my first trip to burgundy, some 20 years ago, I discovered the appellation and white wines of St. Aubin.
Maison Pierre-Yves Colin-Morey Saint Aubin Le Banc 2008 – Burgundy, France
Walter Bourke Homage – Pinot Noir Producer of the Year
Walter Bourke: September 15, 1945 – September 19, 2003
I first met Walter Bourke in 1986, at his legendary Melbourne restaurant, Maria & Walter’s. I had been invited to the ‘Table 8’, an underground group of the most serious wine palates in Australia, which convened regularly in the upstairs private dining room at Maria & Walter’s for extravagant banquets with vertical tastings of some of the most coveted wines in the world.
New World Pinot Noir | Related to: Australia, Burgundy, Homage, Maria & Walters, New Zealand, Pinot Noir, Walter Bourke |
Raspberry Flat, Mount Aspiring, Middle Earth (August 1st)
Sunday, August 1st, recovering day after ‘The Duck Run’, which I will cover in more depth once I have downloaded photographs. I can report it was one of the best versions we have made – good curry is like pinot noir, it can be very temperamental, some days sulking, some days on song.
Maison & Domaine Leroy – The Queen of Burgundy
One of the crowning event’s of our Burghound in Asia program and suitably so for the ‘Queen of Burgundy’, Madame (Lalou) Bize-Leroy is arguably one of the most well-known if not controversial persons in Burgundy. She is the owner of Domaine d’Auvenay and Domaine Leroy and since 1955 has been at the helm of the family’s negociant business, Maison Leroy, established in 1868.
“Antipodean” Grands Crus of Burgundy, France & New Zealand
Antipodean – “Two points, places, or regions that are situated diametrically opposite to one another on the earth’s surface – especially the country that is opposite to one’s own”
It would be fair to say New Zealand and France are diametrical opposites in more ways than one, even though the French came very close to colonizing New Zealand, passing Captain Cooks frigate during the night. But that’s another story.
What do Quebec, an Old Sea Dog, a Woodsman & Great Burgundy have in common?
Answer: Pascal Marchand, one of the great characters of Burgundy.
In a region that is habitually prosaic, Pascal Marchand is atypical – a real character and a solid chap to boot. He’s half woodsman and half old sea dog – indeed, in his teenage years he was in the merchant navy. He is undeniably a woodsman, since he comes from Quebec, a country of vast forests, but also because “bois”, the French for “wood”, is the name given to the vine branches pruned in winter – and Pascal is clearly a vine-caring man.
France – Red Wine of the Year
Must-Have Wines of the Lunar Year
Georges Duboeuf Chateau des Capitans Julienas 2009 & Georges Duboeuf Morgon Domaine Mont Chavy 2009
I can already sense the disbelief from the wine cognoscenti, Beaujolais? How could Beaujolais eclipse Bordeaux, Burgundy or the Rhone Valley? Surely he can’t be serious!
Well I am, moreover unequivocal in my choice and can genuinely say that these two wines gave me the greatest (French) drinking pleasure of the year, trying them both in a tasting line-up held by Franck Duboeuf, and separately over a meal.
Matt Kramer – Unplugged in Singapore
Brought to you by The Wandering Palate and Hermitage Wine.
Matt Kramer, Wine Spectator‘s contributing editor and columnist for the magazine both in print and online, “Drinking Out Loud” will be in Singapore with ‘one nightly only’ appearance and wine dinner at…
Singapore sale confirms Asian interest in Burgundy
A casino owner in Singapore has spent £111,000 on a single case of Romanée Conti from the 1971 vintage.
The wine, which was sold by Bordeaux Index, is being touted by the merchant as further proof of a rising interest in fine Burgundy among Asian customers.
“The price goes to show that it’s not just Bordeaux wines that [Asian] consumers are thirsty for,” commented Gary Boom, adding, “Asian interest in Burgundy has really taken off over the last 12 months.”
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