Emmanuel Giboulet 2
It seems that nearly 500,000 people signed that petition – that is a very high number of experts. Some people probably did so without full understanding of the facts – as I did. I put the link on the blog because it is a very serious situation that we should be thinking about. It is, I hope something that can be discussed and I already have one comment on the subject. I would appreciate anyone with knowledge taking the time to offer a point of view here.
I have heard no news of any judgement as yet, but any ruling will not be the end of the matter. The problem must still be solved in the best way possible. I do not believe sending Monsieur Giboulet to jail or not will not provide the solution to a complex problem. Sharing knowledge might. As Bill Nanson put it, what price Unesco recognition if there are no vines….
Emmanuel Giboulot
I’m sure this is worthy of your attention: http://ipsn.eu/petition_ld/remerciement_viticulteur/
I do wish I’d met him earlier, or at least drunk his wine, but I’ll make sure I do both as soon as I.
The Longest Day starts early in St Aubin
The host village prepares a special cuvée for the visitors
The porter teams from each village receive fortifying hospitality from the host village before their procession starts
Its a frosty start usually. 2014 is no exception but its much better than rain!
Ready for the start
Cassecroute and a glass of something around 6.30 a.m. is followed by the call for the porters and statues to take their usual position in the line-up in the street to begin a non-stop trail through the vineyards before being engulfed by the scrum of tourists waiting in the village. The event plays more to press photographers’ strengths than mine so a little preparation helps the decision making process. Having to follow a particular group, the groups from Aloxe, Pernand and Ladoix-Serrigny means I am on the move all the time but great light and location can be spoiled by the unexpected arrival of unwanted additions to the scenario such as first aiders in hi-viz gear or just enthusiastic fellow photographers leaping in. All you can do is accept it and keep shooting.
By the time we climb out of the village of Gamay the sky is lightening to reveal thin strips of pink edged cloud and we find ourselves among the frosted vines of St Aubin with occasional small christmas trees bedecked with white flowers dotted along the way.
Approaching St Aubin through “Sur Le Sentier Du Clou as the sun rises
The processional bands sound a long way back, coming it seems, from another, more rumbustious world than the remoteness and peace of the vineyard slopes.
Soon we arrive at St Aubin itself and it’s impossible to keep up with the statues among the crowds but the previous day’s visit has reminded me of the available shortcuts and I gain time to talk to the Gendarmes controlling traffic on the N 6. I am searching for an opportunity to represent this very French part of local life in the story of Corton and they are happy to cooperate.
Gendarmes protect St Vincent from the N 6
Next stop its the war memorial and a stirring rendition of the Marseillaise.
The Chevaliers du Tastevin led here by Louis-Michel Liger-Belair are always a happy bunch
Vincent Rapet, Pierre Cornu and Jean-René Nudant along with Jean-Marc Cachat
Then its uphill to the church where the statues are tightly packed together in Dominique Derain’s courtyard while the porters are at Mass. By now St Aubin is filling up and the crowds around the church and `Dominique’s courtyard are waiting for the Mass to finish and the procession to descend back past the Monument Aux Morts and on to the old château in Gamay. There retired vignerons fom the village will be intronised into the Chevaliers du Tastevin.
Statues fill Dominique Derain’s courtyard during the Mass
The crowd however is causing a “bouchon” or traffic jam as porters struggle to get in to the courtyard and manoeuvre out with their statues. Slow going means my villages are standing around chatting rather than processing but the bands are great entertainment, especially that from Meursault.
Rock and Roll Burgundian style from Harmonie de Meursault
They catch them young in Meursault
At the memorial I call it a day, lunch is calling and that means queueing…
Oysters seemed to go down well with St Aubin’s whites.
There will be over 20,000 here today, time to get ahead of the game and head for the food stands back up round the church of St Aubin (of course) in front of the tide coming up from the buses arriving from Chagny station that disembark at Gamay. After frites, sausage and a gauffre (waffle) I retrace my steps around the village and encounter winemakers smiling in the sun among the incoming crowds, each visitor carrying their 15 euro package of tasting glass and 7 tickets to various wine outlets dotted around the village. A very good day will go on for a long time yet and later these locals will be dressed in their best to enjoy another banquet tonight.
I have a ticket…. as chauffeur to my photographer friend Thierry, so its another late night before Sunday’s train home.
It was a good night, I was sat between the Best Sommelier in France 1994 and an English importer so I tried to keep my opinions to myself ! Here are some images…
A fanfare greets each new wine
which is served with great care
along with several courses, but I sadly lost my copy of the impressive menu so I can’t tell you what this was !
The usual Burgundian drinking songs were led by Le Vieux Cep de Corton with typical gusto and humour
jonatcorton 
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