Elden Selections Hidden Gem Makes New York Times Headline
Big news about a small producer landed recently in the New York Times – and it’s one of Elden Selections winemakers. If you’re a reader you may have seen an article about a certain Bénigne Joliet, expert proprietor of the Clos de la Perrière. He is one of Elden’s producers... Continue »
Jun 14, 2022 at 4:25 PM
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Vougeot
From little rivers, great oceans may flow. So it is with Vougeot, a small village in the Côte de Nuits, named after the little river Vouge. Though the smallest commune in the wider Côte d’Or region, it is also the largest Grand Cru clos (meaning ‘plot’ or ‘vineyard’). Most of the wine from Vougeot comes from this single vineyard – the outstanding Clos de Vougeot... Continue »
Jun 10, 2022 at 10:55 AM
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Bourgogne vs Burgundy
What’s in a name? Well, when it comes to wine from the region the English-speaking world calls Burgundy, that depends on where you are. If you’re French, for example, you’d be using the name Bourgogne for the same region, rather than the translation ‘Burgundy’. If you were Italian, the name you’d use would be ‘Borgogna’, whilst... Continue »
Jun 2, 2022 at 12:52 PM
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Côte de Beaune
In Burgundy, the name of the wine grower counts for as much as the vineyard, which is why they have a saying here – ‘there are no great wines, only great bottles of wine.’ This is true for the whole region, but especially so in the very heart of Bourgogne – the Côte d’Or (comprised of the Côte de Beaune and Côte de Nuits). Continue »
May 27, 2022 at 1:00 PM
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The Perfect Burgundy Wine Glass
In August we posted a blog about how to choose the right wine glass. As we reflected on that blog post we came to see it as an educational piece covering wine glasses across the spectrum, illustrating many types of wine glasses for all different types of wines and wine varietals. Not really burgundy specific. So we sat down again with the team at Elden to re-examine this issue from a Burgundy perspective... Continue »
May 20, 2022 at 11:32 AM
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The Côte de Nuits – great wines, in a nutshell…
The Côte de Nuits is known for world-class Pinot Noir wines – it’s a cornucopia of superb reds (and a very few great whites), a jewel in the Burgundian crown, and many other superlatives – but in case you are practicing your French, it’s got nothing to do with the night-time. In fact, there is some debate as to... Continue »
May 14, 2022 at 11:03 AM
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Bouzeron
Finding truly great wines in Burgundy might be described as being a little like panning for gold. You know the nuggets of brilliance are out there, you just need to know where to look. But when it comes to the wines of the small village of Bouzeron in the Côte Chalonnaise, you find you are quite literally looking for gold... Continue »
May 5, 2022 at 1:55 PM
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On the ‘Lesser Appellation’ trail – the road to hidden Burgundy gems
If you want to become a famous winemaker, then one sure-fire way of doing it is to make famous wine. We’re not saying that everyone producing Chambertin should be famous, or makes great wine – as with all natural products, the quality varies. But if you’re making a famous appellation and doing it well, then customers will come to you and reward you sooner or later. That’s fine for big names – but what about smaller, ‘lesser’ appellations... Continue »
Apr 27, 2022 at 3:05 PM
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The Oudin Sisters
For the Oudins, wine production really is a family affair. The Domaine Oudin, in the commune of Chicheé, was founded in the late 1980s when Jean-Claude and wife Christine decided to say farewell to the stresses of their Parisian life and raise their two daughters on a vineyard they had inherited in the countryside. For fans of quality Chablis it was an excellent decision. Continue »
Apr 21, 2022 at 2:09 PM
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Why Choose Burgundy, part 3 - The Terroir
Why choose Burgundy? It’s a simple question. With so many wines on offer from all around the world, it’s a question some may find themselves asking. The answer—or rather, answers—will take us on a journey of discovery... Continue »
Apr 13, 2022 at 1:00 PM
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Aubert de Villaine leaves his role in Domaine Romanée-Conti
All good things must come to an end. Some good things, however, endure longer than others, including some people. The result is that they become a physical and also a spiritual part of the land on which they live, and part of the folklore of the place. If they’re very lucky, they’ll transcend borders and pass into legend... Continue »
Apr 3, 2022 at 11:58 AM
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Coming Home to Cromey
There’s something very special about experiencing great food and wine in the very place it was produced. Nowadays, modern logistics can do great things and get you wine and food from almost anywhere, wherever you live. But there’s a certain je ne sais pas about going to the actual (and spiritual) home of great food and wine—Burgundy—and smelling the freshness with your own senses, feeling the zing on your palate. Experiences matter, and the best linger on in the imagination years after they ended... Continue »
Mar 31, 2022 at 2:00 PM
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Wine Labels
Wine affects us on many levels, often very subtly. It makes us feel things both in terms of what we see when we buy it, and what we experience when drinking it. But it isn’t just the wine itself that speaks to our emotions; the label—probably the first thing we notice on a bottle—taps into our subconscious too... Continue »
Mar 23, 2022 at 10:10 AM
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How to Get the Most Out of Your Burgundy Wine Tasting
It’s easy to get carried away when we talk about how to taste wine. Burgundy wines can give us the most intense pleasures which may be hard to put into words—but still we try. Just remember that it isn’t strictly necessary to use any of these words/phrases to enjoy wine. The experience is no less important or... Continue »
Mar 15, 2022 at 12:01 PM
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The Wine Women of Burgundy
In the world of wine, some things count above all else: knowledge, passion, skill and respect for nature. Other things, like gender, matter much less today, thankfully, than they did in the years gone by. Without a doubt, though, women vintners have often had to work twice as hard as their male counterparts despite being equally adept at making good wine. But once recognized, they become more revered for their wines than many male producers. Continue »
Mar 7, 2022 at 9:47 AM
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Why Choose Burgundy, part 2 – The People
Why choose Burgundy? It’s a simple question. With so many wines on offer from all around the world, it’s a question some may find themselves asking. The answer—or rather, answers—will take us on a journey of discovery from the Kings, Dukes and thirsty monks of the Burgundian past to the colorful characters of the present day, via rolling hillsides and mysteries of the terroir. In this, the second part of our series, we look at some of the memorable and unique characters we’ve had the pleasure of getting to know over our years in Burgundy. Continue »
Mar 2, 2022 at 11:07 AM
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The Wine Curator - Beyond Negociants
Over centuries of great winemaking in the Burgundy region, several different routes to market have developed. Each brings its own advantages and challenges. The role of the negociant, for example, is one of the oldest and best-known models in Burgundy – a merchant buys grapes from smaller vineyards, blends them and sells the resulting bottles. The prevailing model until the 1980s was to buy wine from negociants, but this began to lose ground in favor of the producers themselves bottling their own wine, under their own domain name. Now there was a bigger selection of names and styles – customers could really get to know the land plot by plot, according to who grew where. More enticing, this individualistic route to market, than the large, mass market negociants. Continue »
Feb 24, 2022 at 1:51 PM
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Chardonnay
Writing an article about Chardonnay is a little like writing about baseball or golf. It’s been written about almost exhaustively – it’s globally well known, beloved by millions, and few have anything new to say about it that hasn’t already been said. But that doesn’t mean it isn’t a topic worth writing about. Continue »
Nov 23, 2021 at 12:45 PM
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Low Yield Wines
When thinking of harvests, it’s often easy to associate large yields with good years, and therefore great wines. But it doesn’t really work like that. Indeed, many believe that the best producers tend to have smaller yields, and there are many fine examples of this in Burgundy. As with everything to do with Burgundy wine, there are no hard and fast rules—you have to know and trust the winemaker, and appreciate that a wine is a multifaceted wonder, the product of many different factors. So what do we mean by ‘low yield’, and why might it be low? And what characteristics can a low yield give a wine? Continue »
Nov 9, 2021 at 3:35 PM
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Why Choose Burgundy? Part 1 - the Grapes
Why choose Burgundy? It’s a simple question. With so many wines on offer from all around the world, it’s a question some may find themselves asking. The answer—or rather, answers—will take us on a journey of discovery from the Kings, Dukes and thirsty monks of the Burgundian past to the colorful characters of the present day, via rolling hillsides and mysteries of the terroir. In this, the first part of our series, we look at the grapes used to make Burgundy wine; how they differ from other grapes, why they’re so special and how they came to dominate. Continue »
Nov 2, 2021 at 3:57 PM
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The Wisdom of Old Vines
With great age comes character, wisdom, maybe the odd creak and groan. Age brings many things to old vines, too. But what do we mean by ‘old’? Well, the oldest living grape vine in the world is, according to the Guinness Book of Records, to be found in Slovenia, at over 400 years old. That may be an extreme case. But when we talk about vines in general, ‘adulthood’ comes around 7/8 years after planting. ‘Maturity’ happens from 12-25 years, roughly speaking. And vines aren’t usually considered ‘old’ until they’ve got at least a quarter of a century of age (25-50 years or more). Continue »
Oct 26, 2021 at 11:21 AM
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Harvest 2021 – reaping mixed rewards from a difficult year
The winds of change are blowing once more through Burgundy’s rolling countryside. At this time of year—summed up by the poet John Keats as being one of ‘mists and mellow fruitfulness’—thoughts turn from the bright colors and heat of summer to the more subdued hues of Fall and a return indoors. Here, by roaring fireside we contemplate the year just gone, and begin to look to the one ahead. Change is the only constant in nature, and for the winemakers of this region it means harvesting those precious grapes that they have worked so hard to protect, over what has been one of the toughest years ever for Burgundy producers. Continue »
Oct 19, 2021 at 11:31 AM
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On Terroir Firma – the Secret of Successful Soil
There are many things that go into making a great wine. Many oenophiles can argue well into the night about the relative merits of each, but it usually comes down to the same factors; the climate and conditions the year the grapes were harvested (otherwise known as the vintage); the type of grapes grown; the wine producer and their skill and techniques; and the elevation and soil type the grapes were grown in. It’s this last one that we’re interested in here – the soils and rock in the ground where the vines are planted, also known as terroir. Continue »
Oct 12, 2021 at 1:57 PM
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Seeing Into the Futures – Buying Wine En Primeur
In Burgundy, it’s true to say that charity begins at Beaune. The well-known charity auction at the former hospital – the Hospices de Beaune – rightly attracts a lot of interest, combining its philanthropic efforts with an impressive wine estate. In the current climate, these activities have probably never been more important. Continue »
Sep 28, 2021 at 11:18 AM
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How to Grow Plump Wine Grapes for a Deep and Complex Homemade Wine
Although wine can be made from any type of grape, wine grapes are in a class of their own if you’re looking to produce a rich and complex wine. They’re smaller, full of seeds, and have thicker skins, and while they may not be as tasty as table grapes when eaten fresh, they also have a higher sugar and juice content, making them ideal for turning into wine. Continue »
Sep 3, 2021 at 9:42 AM
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BURGUNDY WINE CLUB
The new Burgundy Wine Club, run by the team at Elden Selections, has a simple mission – but one that has a particular resonance in the current climate. Their aim is to have fun with family and friends in the world of wine – and they will deliver on this promise with an innovative and rewarding journey that’s promised to all members. Continue »
Aug 12, 2021 at 11:28 AM
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PAIRING RED WINE AND FISH
There’s a lot to think about when pairing food and red wine – especially when you’re cooking fish. Yes, you read that right – red wine with fish. It’s true that the received wisdom still often says only white wine should be served with fish. But in fact, there are many great red wines which can be drunk with fish – a whole other world of taste sensations that you may not have considered yet. Fish can have delicate, nuanced flavors and can risk being overpowered, so some care is needed. Read on for some helpful tips and examples of red wine and fish pairings! Continue »
Aug 2, 2021 at 1:06 PM
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SAINT ROMAIN
While technically part of the Cote de Beaune, the village appellation of Saint-Romain is in a completely isolated valley situated to the north of the primary escarpment of the Cote d’Or. Its higher altitude and less “perfect” situation relegated it to a lower rung on the hierarchy historically, because it is more difficult for grapes in such a position to achieve optimal ripeness. However, given the ever-escalating temperatures in Burgundy over the past decade, Saint-Romain rarely suffers from ripeness issues anymore—and in fact, it can offer freshness and vibrancy in warmer vintages. Continue »
Jul 28, 2021 at 1:14 PM
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ORGANIC, BIODYNAMIC OR NATURAL?
The wine world is never short of descriptive terms, all trying to convey the inexpressible pleasure that the fruits of the vine can offer. We all have our own ways of describing our favorite tipples. You can get technical, too, when talking about how the wines were made in the first place. Here, we stumble upon something of a minefield (or should that be vine-field?) of terminology. Take the following commonly used terms: organic, biodynamic, and natural. What do they really mean, and what sort of wines do they produce? Let’s explore each one, and meet some of their proponents in Burgundy. Continue »
Jul 23, 2021 at 1:20 PM
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The wine capital of the world? All roads lead to Burgundy...
"Does Macron like Bordeaux?" At first it may seem like an interesting enough question, and if you asked him, he’d probably say he enjoyed French wine of all kinds (at least if he knew what was good for him). It was a question asked recently by the French media, on hearing that the International Organisation of Vine and Wine (OIV) is looking for a new home for its headquarters. Rumors sprang up that President Emmanuel Macron had allegedly backed Burgundy as the best place for its new home. Continue »
Jul 16, 2021 at 10:08 AM
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