Heart of Burgundy Newsletter - November 2023
Coming to you from the Domaine de Cromey in the heart of Burgundy, it gives me great pleasure to introduce our new monthly newsletter, aptly named 'Heart of Burgundy'. The Domaine de Cromey is the home of Elden Selections and burgundywine.com. Continue »
Nov 14, 2023 at 10:00 PM
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Heart of Burgundy Newsletter - October 2023
Our inaugural edition of our newsletter, keeping you up to date on the latest Burgundy wine news. Continue »
Oct 12, 2023 at 3:00 AM
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A Look Back at Our 2016 Vintage Report
If it sometimes seems like the life of a winemaker in Burgundy is a constant diet of sunshine, warm days in the field and effortlessly great wines, then years like 2016 exist to remind us that this isn’t so. Sometimes, it’s hard – brutally hard. You may not know if you’ll be left with any wine at all at the end of it. So if your first taste of the 2016 vintage grabs your attention, then think how lucky you are to be drinking it – because the winemakers certainly think themselves lucky too. Continue »
Sep 13, 2023 at 2:15 PM
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Domaine or Chateau?
Most drinkers of French wines are familiar with the terms Domaine and Chateau, and maybe even climat or clos, but how many of us can really define exactly what they mean? Continue »
Sep 6, 2023 at 1:31 PM
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Complementary Sensations: The Bouquet in the Glass (and in the Vase)
Our ability to experience senses is one of the greatest wonders of the human brain. Scientists even now are only beginning to get a full understanding of how our senses are inter-related. When it comes to taste and smell, we know that these senses can be subtly influenced by others, such as what we see and hear. In the context of wine... Continue »
Aug 30, 2023 at 10:20 AM
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Ladoix
The thirsty traveller, having lunched in Dijon and travelling south through the Cote de Nuits for refreshment in Burgundy, will eventually reach Ladoix-Serrigny. It marks the start of the Cote de Beaune. That it should be associated with ‘beginnings’ is particularly apt, for the name Ladoix means ‘water spring’ in old French. To get technical, Ladoix is actually made up of the village of Serrigny and two hamlets – Ladoix and Buisson. But for now, let’s leave that aside and focus on the more important matter at hand – the wines produced here. Continue »
Aug 15, 2023 at 3:15 PM
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Wine Etiquette - Does it Matter?
There is a lot of ritual around wine drinking. Some of it is for good reason (the way you hold a glass, sniff the aroma, and taste the wine does matter, especially if it’s an expensive wine with a complex character like those listed on BurgundyWine.com by Elden Selections). But can it be taken too far? Continue »
Aug 8, 2023 at 12:51 PM
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Places to see around Domaine de Cromey: Beaune
Domaine de Cromey, the home of Elden Selections in Burgundy, is the perfect base for your vacation of a lifetime in Burgundy — not simply because of its charm and history, but for its location amongst some of the most fascinating attractions in all of France. In this part of our series looking at the world-class sights to be seen around Domaine de Cromey, we profile the iconic town of Beaune, the historic center of Burgundy’s wine trade and a global icon for excellence in wines. Continue »
Jun 6, 2023 at 1:00 PM
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Places to see around Domaine de Cromey: Château du Clos de Vougeot
Domaine de Cromey, the home of Elden Selections in Burgundy, is the perfect base for your vacation of a lifetime in Burgundy – not simply because of its charm and history, but for its location amongst some of the most fascinating attractions in all of France. In this part of our series looking at the world-class sights to be seen around Domaine de Cromey, we profile the Château du Clos de Vougeot... Continue »
May 19, 2023 at 2:14 PM
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Forbes’ Magazine Cites Elden Selections in Bourgogne vs Burgundy debate
There can be few things more personal and quintessential to a place than its name. A lot hangs on it—not least legacy and future reputation—and many an argument has raged fiercely over a humble name. The same is true in the wine world, an industry where passions run high and recognisability and authenticity are paramount. Continue »
Mar 2, 2023 at 1:57 PM
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Maison Capitain-Gagnerot
Through life we meet many people, but perhaps the most important and memorable times are when we meet a great teacher. When they introduce us to new ideas, show us things in a different light, and teach us lessons that will stay with us forever—that’s when you know you’ve met someone special. And so it was for us, when Elden Selections first met Roger Capitain... Continue »
Feb 24, 2023 at 2:05 PM
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Fearless, Good and Bold – The Wine-Loving Dukes of Burgundy
Religions, wars and the nobility are intertwined with one another throughout the long and rich history of Burgundy and its wines. For many centuries, it was the religious orders of the monks in France who held the land and tended the vines around their Abbeys. Some Abbeys... Continue »
Feb 9, 2023 at 3:45 PM
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Maranges and Santenay
In close proximity to the splendid baronial manor house of Domaine de Cromey—the home of BurgundyWine.com and Elden Selections—lies the appellation of Maranges. This southerly Cote de Beaune appellation produces wines from three communes... Continue »
Jan 18, 2023 at 2:25 PM
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Good Things Come to Those Who Wait
Postponed for two years but finally being held this year, the Saint-Vincent du Chablisien festival is taking place in the village of Fleys, in the heart of the wonderful Chablis vineyards. Held over 4 / 5 February 2023, the festival’s programme includes a banquet, special tastings, cellar tours and other activities in a beautiful and historic setting. Continue »
Jan 10, 2023 at 9:01 AM
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Côte Chalonnaise
Boundaries exist for many reasons. They can delimit regions that are older than memory, or simply be expedient lines drawn on a map. History and geography, but also politics and favoritism, create boundaries. Wine regions are no different... Continue »
Dec 27, 2022 at 11:50 AM
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Mighty Neighborly
Travel is a wonderful thing. It broadens the mind, refreshes the soul—and as the saying goes, a change is as good as a rest. But it’s always great to return home to Burgundy—there’s really no place like it... Continue »
Dec 6, 2022 at 12:01 PM
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Chambolle-Musigny
Chambolle, one of the prettiest villages in the Côte de Nuits, takes its name rather dramatically from the French words ‘champ bouillant’ meaning ‘boiling or bubbling field’. This isn’t a reference to any unusually hot climate, but instead refers to the torrential floods which can flow down nearby hillsides after heavy rainfall. But for our purposes, we’re more concerned... Continue »
Nov 23, 2022 at 4:45 PM
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Fining and Filtration
The processes of fining and filtering wine are not exactly new, nor is the way they split the opinions of enthusiasts and producers alike; there has always been controversy over whether to use either (or neither) and what this really means for the wine in question. Continue »
Nov 8, 2022 at 11:30 AM
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All You Need to Know About Wine Bottles
We often give a lot of thought to the color and character of the wine in a bottle, but not so much thought to the bottles themselves. Perhaps you think they’re all more or less the same? Far from being uniform across all wine types, the bottles we drink from have their own characters too, with many different designs... Continue »
Oct 30, 2022 at 10:32 PM
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Aloxe-Corton
The history of wine in Burgundy is almost indistinguishable from that of the royalty and nobility of this ancient land. Take the village of Aloxe-Corton, for example. First mentioned in 696, it has an almost mystical appeal... Continue »
Oct 21, 2022 at 4:11 PM
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The Opening Ceremony - How to Open a Bottle of Wine
Drinking wine, especially good wine, is akin to a sort of ritual. We get pleasure from selecting the bottle, slicing the foil, pulling the cork (and that satisfying pop) before we even get around to sniffing and tasting. As with most things in life, to open a bottle properly - without risking ruining the cork, the wine or both – requires the right tools for the job. Let’s take a look... Continue »
Oct 14, 2022 at 2:31 PM
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30 wines under $35
While it’s true that Burgundy is often associated with world-renowned and very expensive wines, there is an undiscovered world of small-production high-quality true-Burgundy wines out there, at prices that allow you to pull out a Burgundy without the worry. These are everyday drinking wines... Continue »
Oct 13, 2022 at 2:01 PM
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Ready for the next step in your Burgundy wine journey? Join the Club!
If you’re ready to begin your journey through the very best wines that Burgundy has to offer, all from the comfort of your own home, then you’ve come to the right place. Step inside and be welcomed as an inaugural member of Elden Selections’ Burgundy Wine Club. Continue »
Oct 7, 2022 at 12:50 PM
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How to choose the right wine glass
If you’re serious about your wine (and if you’re reading this then you probably are), then you’ll want to give some thought to choosing your wine glass too. Its size and shape can make an appreciable difference to the whole drinking experience, so make yourself aware of the different types, and the science behind them. Continue »
Oct 6, 2022 at 11:21 AM
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A Beginner’s Guide to Chardonnay
The Chardonnay grape embodies what for many people would be the ideal characteristics they look for in a partner. Take its character – it’s not demanding or needy like some grapes, and can even alter its flavor to adapt to the region it’s grown in. Is it generous? You bet – good-sized bunches just bursting with flavor. How does it get on with others? Well... Continue »
Sep 30, 2022 at 12:30 PM
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Vintage Memories – the 2013 Campaign and Wines You Can Still Try
It was a small crop that Burgundy wine makers managed to gather in 2013, the fourth in as many years. Fortunes were split, as they often are; some of the wines were destined for great things, but for many it was a disastrous year. The locals call the weather conditions in a growing season ‘the campaign’ – which tells you a lot about the almost war-like mindset with which it’s approached. Continue »
Sep 28, 2022 at 5:35 PM
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The wines of the ‘Bare’ Mountain of Montrachet
There is a saying in Burgundy, that ‘the habit does not make the monk.’ This won’t surprise anyone who knows the history of the wine-loving monks of Burgundy’s many abbeys. But it applies particularly in the case of one of the jewels in the crown of Burgundy wine – that of Chassagne-Montrachet, in the Côte de Beaune. Continue »
Sep 23, 2022 at 2:15 PM
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Your invite to the New Domaine de Cromey Tasting Room!
The wine world can teach us many things about life – the circle of our lives and the influences of those who came before us. Sometimes the symbolism is subtle, and sometimes it’s the most obvious thing in the room, as it is with the huge wine wheel in the new Domaine de Cromey tasting room. Continue »
Sep 16, 2022 at 11:59 AM
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Rully
The village of Rully, in the Côte Chalonnaise, has one of those long histories that you only find in Europe. A wealthy Roman by the name of Rubilius is rumored to be the source of its name, which is now synonymous not only with quality red and white wines, but also, since... Continue »
Sep 9, 2022 at 1:10 PM
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Pommard
You’d be forgiven for thinking that the vineyards of Pommard – which border Volnay – produce similar wines to their neighbors – fragrant, delicate and with finesse. But as we know, Burgundy loves to catch us out, and Pommard is no exception... Continue »
Sep 2, 2022 at 11:15 AM
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