April
My April visit was a chance to meet the editor from Glénat the publisher, and François Perroy who will be writing the accompanying text. Things are starting to move quickly now in terms of production: picture selection, design and layout and most especially the choice of a title. Even a three hour dinner with a group of winemakers did not quite finish that job! We did have a very pleasant tour of the Hill with Claude Chapuis, author of an earlier book on Corton, as company and source of a lot of information for François.
It was the start of a sunny and dry week and continued March’s lack of rain – 15mm I was told
empty rain gauge behind Latour’s cuverie
Marking the the walkers route through the Grands Crus of Corton Hill
The second day, after I’d made my usual pre-dawn start, was a morning visiting winemakers and tasting. Perhaps I should have done this at the end of every day !
PierreCornu reveals the secrets of Ladoix to François Perroy
Follin-Arbelet warming his glass
A vendangeur’s model of a cabotte still sits on a wall in Charlemagne six months later
In Languettes the real thing catches the first light of the day
As the new buds arrive, so do the hungry caterpillars
Returning to Pernand from Magny-Les-Villers on a spring evening
An early start at Aloxe-Corton
No body around yet in Ladoix Hautes Mourottes
But Jean-Louis is ready to go, below the the Louis Latour cuverie built in 1834
In Pernand-Vergelesses they are bottling at Bonneau du Martray
A careful count is kept of a precious crop
Saturday brings an excuse to join the tourists (and several winemakers) at Beaune market before a celebration lunch with friends Gareth and his wife Bérangère. A long lunch is followed by a trip out the pottery at Evelle near Nolay.
Asparagus is in season but, apparently eaten without wine..
Charcuterie, well that’s a different matter.
Down in Evelle, Philippe is hard at work keeping up with demand.
Concentration
One more for the kiln.
Difficult not to find something you like and this is not even the shop!
Sunday should have been palm Sunday in Savigny-Les-Beaune but I was invited to “Le Parcours des Trétaux” at Pernand-Vergelesses which happens only every two years so no decision necessary !
Three hundred visitors are divided in to three teams ( Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and ALigoté ) at the first winery venue where we are all presented with an Aligoté aperitif and gougeres along with our first of several theatrical entertainments before our “team” was led off by our guide Sebastien and his drum. While there is no rush each teams arrival at their next entertainment and food course ( accompanied by several wines of course ) is carefully timed as we crisscross the village from one domaine to another.
Hats off to Matthieu the master of ceremonies who is the star of the whole day, as “Belinda” (if I heard correctly) a cross between Liza Minelli and Darth Vader.
Put it in your diary for April 2016, it’s not to be missed!
A warm welcome at Le Parcours des Trétaux in Pernand
The star – a cross between Liza Minelli and Darth Vader !
The Ladies chorus
Sebastien leads the way to the first course
Fair warning !
Fictional Pernand vigneron seeks bride. Hilarious !
Entertainment en route to dessert
Superb service !
In the end everyone goes home happy.
jonatcorton 
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