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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Anything But Chardonnay...
The renown of the Chardonnay grape has now truly spread right around the world, but it has often been the subject of a love-hate relationship. It seems to come in cycles – when people fall out of love with the Chardonnay grape they may gravitate towards other grapes like Sauvignon Blanc, Viognier or Riesling. When they’ve had their fill of those, there’s a resurgence of Chardonnay. Continue »
Jul 7, 2021 at 11:12 AM
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OAK & BARRELS
Anyone who has ever wandered into a wine cellar for a barrel tasting remembers the charm. The dim light, the glass pipette, the swirling and spitting, and the privilege of witnessing something magical in the making. Continue »
Jun 30, 2021 at 9:03 AM
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ELLIE’S COOKBOOK – FISH DISHES AND WHAT TO DRINK WITH THEM
It’s often said that if Paris is France’s head, and Champagne her soul, then Burgundy is her stomach. With such an array of fine foods and wines to savor, you may feel a little overwhelmed, perhaps wondering where to begin. Luckily, there are some excellent recipes to get to know from the region, many of which are contained within Ellie’s cookbook and often made at the Domaine de Cromey. Whether it’s meat, seafood, vegetarian or sweet dishes that make your mouth water, there is inspiration to be found on its pages for almost any appetite. Continue »
Jun 29, 2021 at 1:26 PM
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Irancy— An Undiscovered Gem in Burgundy
On slopes above the Yonne river valley 15 km from Chablis, a handful of winemakers are growing Pinot Noir at the northernmost limit of its possibility. While Chablis, of course, is famous and white, Irancy has always been red and has always lived in... Continue »
Jun 16, 2021 at 8:59 AM
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CRÉMANT VS PROSECCO
When the weather is warm and you have something to celebrate, we naturally look for sparkling wines. This year looks certain to be no exception. And there’s no shortage of choice; Prosecco continues to be hugely popular, as does Champagne. But so too does the third option here – Crémant de Bourgogne, which competes superbly on both quality and price. So what is Crémant, exactly? How does it differ from Prosecco, and why is it such a popular drink? Continue »
Jun 14, 2021 at 1:33 PM
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DOMAINE JEAN FERY
We first came across the Domaine Jean Fery some years ago when we met up with Pascal Marchand. He’d recently been liberated from the world of corporate winemaking, and was setting up his own negociant house in Nuits-St-George at the time. It was great to catch up; driving in his car, we left Nuits St George along the Hautes Cotes ridge road. As we arrived in a place called Echevronne, nestling between Beaune and Nuits-St-Georges, we could see vineyard workers getting a horse down from its trailer. This, Pascal told me, was the Domaine Jean Fery. Continue »
Jun 9, 2021 at 10:55 AM
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Burgundy Wine and Burgundy Cheese
Food and Wine Pairings in a Microcosm One of the best things about living in a traditional food and wine culture is that you don’t necessarily have to be traditional. Living in Burgundy, we enjoy a culinary tradition that runs deep. The cuisine is world-renowned and the wines a... Continue »
Jun 1, 2021 at 3:11 PM
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VILLAGES OF THE CÔTE DE BEAUNE – POMMARD
Beaune – the eponymous heart of both the Côte de Beaune and the wider Burgundy region – has always represented everything good about the wines and wonders of this hallowed ground. Lately, however, the reputation of other villages has grown, just as the popularity and cache of Burgundy has spread all around the world. In fact, it’s usually the vineyards of these villages that become famous now, more than the places themselves. True wine lovers understand that it’s the soil in these plots of land – the famous terroir – that really define Burgundy and the wines it produces. Continue »
May 20, 2021 at 1:39 PM
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MALOLACTIC FERMENTATION ; DOMAINE FÉLIX SAINT BRIS
In simple layperson’s terms MLF in wine in the transformation of the ‘tart’ malic acid bacteria (similar to that in a green apple) into ‘softer’ lactic acid bacteria. Continue »
May 4, 2021 at 11:05 AM
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VOSNE-ROMANÉE
‘The jewel in Burgundy’s crown.’ ‘The central pearl of her necklace’. These, and many other superlatives, have long been attributed to one of Burgundy’s brightest stars – the commune of Vosne-Romanée. Known for its world-class red wines (about 90% of all the wines grown here are from Pinot Noir grapes) it has been a hub of wine production for more than a millennium. As is often the case, its roots can be traced back to the monks of a nearby monastery – in this case, Saint Vivant. These wily men of God were amongst the first to realise the potential (and value) of the land they lived on. One of these plots of land would become very valuable indeed – a Prince named Conti gave his name to it, and Romanée-Conti has been astounding wine drinkers ever since. Continue »
Apr 29, 2021 at 11:06 AM
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HOW TO STORE WINE
Good wine, like many things in life, gets better with age. Wine is also an investment – of time, money, and love, which should be protected, and stored properly. Plus, storing wine is really part and parcel of the hobby of wine – of course, we drink some wines straight away, but there’s a real joy in discovering which wines benefit the most from some cellar time, and exactly what subtle changes we can pick up. So for all these reasons, it’s handy to know the basics of wine storage. Continue »
Apr 19, 2021 at 11:09 AM
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BEGINNER’S GUIDE TO CHABLIS
There are many reasons to search out true Chablis. Perhaps you love Chardonnay? Chablis is a unique expression of the grape, and will teach you something new about it. Perhaps you dislike Chardonnay? Then Chablis could well change your mind about, and prove that not all Chardonnays are the same. Perhaps you’re looking for a sure-fire accompaniment to many seafood dishes? Then look no further. Maybe you dislike oak in wines? For sure, there are many over-oaked Chardonnays in the world, however oak is rarely used in Chablis. Or maybe you live in a land-locked part of the world, but want to feel like you’re on the beach on a breezy coast? Chablis could be the solution – its lean, saline flavors can transport you there. Continue »
Apr 12, 2021 at 11:12 AM
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HOW LONG SHOULD YOU KEEP A CHABLIS?
We often get great questions from our customers and fellow wine enthusiasts. One memorable question was how long we recommended you keep a Chablis for… What is your recommendation for the latest date a Chablis should be drunk, i.e. 4 years, 6 years, 8 years? Continue »
Mar 19, 2021 at 11:18 AM
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STEPHANIE SAUMAIZE AND THE CHATEAU DE VERGISSON
Pouilly-Fuissé wines – opulent, noble whites from the Mâconnais region – are sold under an appellation of the same name. The name is taken from two distinct villages in the area of production – Pouilly and Fuissé. Wines of nearby Vergisson and Chaintre are also sold under the same appellation. But look a bit deeper into the name Vergisson and you will find a further pairing of great names – those of Stephanie Saumaize and Pierre Laroche, who together set up the Domaine du Chateaux de Vergisson, in 2012. Continue »
Mar 10, 2021 at 11:22 AM
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MONTHÉLIE
For many in Burgundy – and in the world beyond its borders – wine is something akin to a religion. Its mysteries are celebrated and revered; it requires faith (in the weather and the vintner); and it brings solace and joy to millions. No surprise, therefore, that the Burgundian writer Pierre Poupin described the lovely village of Monthélie in religious terms – ‘prettily nestled into the curve of the hillside like the head of St John against the shoulder of Jesus’. Continue »
Mar 1, 2021 at 11:31 AM
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SAVIGNY-LÈS-BEAUNE
“Theological, nourishing and death-defying”. The local motto of the large village of Savigny-lès-Beaune certainly makes some bold claims about the wines that are produced here. Many would swear to all three, however, after tasting these wines, which are amongst the finest in Burgundy and surely one of its best-kept secrets. Continue »
Feb 22, 2021 at 11:37 AM
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BURGUNDY WINE AND BURGUNDY CHEESE
Living in a place rich in culinary tradition – as we do at Domaine de Cromey in the heart of Burgundy – doesn’t mean you always have to be traditional. The love of food and wine runs deep here, and living in the thick of it allows for an even deeper appreciation. Continue »
Feb 16, 2021 at 10:12 AM
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BURGUNDY ROSÉ
Somewhat less spoken of than red and white wines – but certainly no less enjoyable – are the rosé wines of Burgundy. Known as Bourgogne Rosé , they are made from grapes that may be grown in more than 300 communes in the Burgundy region. Most communes are in Saône et Loire, but they’re also found in the Côte d’Or, Rhône and Yonne. Regional appellation status has been theirs since the 1940’s. Continue »
Feb 1, 2021 at 10:35 AM
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A BEGINNER’S GUIDE TO PINOT NOIR
You may have been drinking red Burgundy wines for many years, but how much time have you spent considering the grape they’re made from? We know that red Burgundy is (virtually without exception) made from Pinot Noir grapes, so let’s take a look at this fascinating variety – it’s history, style, character, and some of the wonderful wines it can produce. Continue »
Jan 27, 2021 at 10:40 AM
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DOMAINE ELODIE ROY
Native Côte de Beaune winemaker Elodie Roy – proprietor of Domaine Elodie Roy and creator of some of the excellent reds from Santenay and Maranges – describes taking over the family domain in 2018 as her mid-life crisis. It was certainly a brave move, with no guarantees of success – but out of a crisis came some of the most exciting wines around, and a rising star of the future. Per ardua ad astra! Continue »
Dec 18, 2020 at 10:52 AM
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IRANCY— AN UNDISCOVERED GEM IN BURGUNDY
On slopes above the Yonne river valley 15 km from Chablis, a handful of winemakers are growing Pinot Noir at the northernmost limit of its possibility. While Chablis, of course, is famous and white, Irancy has always been red and has always lived in the shadow of the more famous red Burgundies to the south. Continue »
Dec 10, 2020 at 10:57 AM
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AN ÉMINENT CRÉMANT
Alongside their world-class white and red wines, did you know that Burgundy produces excellent sparkling wines too? The Appellation, known as Crémant de Bourgogne, can be used for white or rosé sparkling wines (though if they are red then the term Bourgogne Mousseux is used). The sparkling wines of this region are not only superb in terms of quality, but they are also refreshingly reasonably priced too, compared to their more famous cousins to the North in Champagne. The Crémant Appellation covers around 400 communes from Chablis to Beaujolais (in other words, right across Burgundy), each area producing wines of rich variety and complexion. Continue »
Dec 1, 2020 at 11:00 AM
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AUTUMN IN BURGUNDY
Every season in Burgundy is distinctive and special. And while we appreciate what each one brings, there is something special about autumn. A feast for every sense, the months of September through to November offer a heady combination of golden hues cast on the restful vines, blushing pink mornings, and the deep scent of rich earth hanging in the air. As the poet John Keats noted, this is the season of mists and mellow fruitfulness. Continue »
Nov 16, 2020 at 11:07 AM
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EVERY UNDERDOG HAS ITS DAY – ALIGOTÉ, BURGUNDY’S LESSER-KNOWN GRAPE
When something is difficult, it’s often a sign that it is worth doing. Sometimes, you know you’re onto a good thing because it’s tough. And while this may be a general truism, it’s particularly apt when you’re talking about Aligoté, the second white grape of Burgundy. It’s always been a hard sell, irregular in quality, and hence often described as a ‘small wine’, unlike its more famous (and more compliant) cousin Chardonnay. Continue »
Sep 1, 2020 at 9:52 AM
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THE COUCHOIS
The turn of the new millennium was a special time for many reasons, but in particular it marked an important event in the Couchois region, just to the south of Maranges in Burgundy. For here it was that a new Appellation was born – the Bourgogne Côte du Couchois. Continue »
May 20, 2020 at 9:56 AM
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MARANGES AND SANTENAY
At the southern tip of the Côte de Beaune lies the somewhat lesser-known appellation of Maranges. It’s a neighbor of Domaine de Cromey, the home of Elden Selections and illustrates nicely how much things have moved on in this area over the last thirty years or so. When we first arrived in Burgundy, nearby Santenay was considered to be rustic and no one even mentioned les Maranges. Now, producers like Bernard Regnaudot and his son Florian are among the locomotives of quality wine production in the area, and the appellation is the chou-chou of the local wine world. Continue »
May 4, 2020 at 11:07 AM
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AUXEY-DURESSES
Just as in the Chablis region, the growers in the rather discrete appellation of Auxey-Duresses suffer from the cold in springtime and must guard against frost damage like their more northerly cousins. Indeed, being situated in a side-valley of the Côte de Beaune means that the climate of Auxey-Duresses is quite cool, producing a different style of Burgundy than other warmer zones. Continue »
Apr 27, 2020 at 11:11 AM
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IN VINO VERITAS – AUTHENTIC WINES ARE THE REAL DEAL
Looking behind a product’s branding and marketing is what an increasing number of us are doing, it seems. In this era of ‘fake news’, we don’t just want to take a company’s word for a product and what it’s made from – we want details. Continue »
Apr 20, 2020 at 11:14 AM
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Beaujolais
Until Beaujolais Nouveau arrived, it was much easier for Burgundy to consider Beaujolais as one of its own. Despite the fact that it has a completely different soil make-up, uses a totally different grape variety (Gamay), and is in reality not in Burgundy at all, Burgundians have always had a soft spot for Beaujolais. And we at Elden Selections agree. Continue »
Apr 13, 2020 at 11:44 AM
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