I made a quick dash on 31 August and returned on September 4th, a 5 day trip that would not force me to quarantine in France if Mr Macron responded to Boris in like fashion again. I had only found out by research before my trip to Champagne in early July that he allowed corroborated business trips up to 5 days duration. The word you will have heard no doubt is that the harvest is small but excellent if you make good use of your sorting table. Since my travels to the Chalonnaise I really enjoy the break from green stripes going this way and that.
The rest of the week from Tuesday early 7. It was set up by Didier Monchovet in the s and Didier was looking for a suitable buyer. Well he certainly found one. Domaine Boris Champy will be getting regular visits from me! Meanwhile down the road in Pommard Michael Baum is spending his Silicon Valley millions it looks more like billions!
Stability may not have arrived yet actually. A huge crane, the sound of falling walls and the cutting of new stone and a large whole in the ground man there will be work going on here for a while and winemaker Emmanuel Sala is in temporary accommodation out at St Marie Le Blanche for a little while. I can imagine Burgundy is going to have an interesting few years ahead. It has recently caught the attention of Wine Spectator. After the day spent with these three it was off to try to get a picture of Frank Grux as he coped with the harvest at Olivier Lelaive.
Always a warm welcome from Frank despite his discomfort in front my camera! Then I head south through the Chalonnaise to see how my friends down there have got on before heading for my Maconnais rendez-vous with Gautier Thevenet in Quintaine before he starts his harvest. Always late pickers, the Thevenets.
A 6 pm cancellation allows me to meet my good friend from Bourgogne Aujourdhui magazine, Thierry Gaudillere and introduce him to the delights of an Italian made pizza in Mercurey at Basilicum. The new Boisset winery, spectacularly as it is,covered in grass and vines I found the interior equally impressive. Greg Patriat has been in place there 17 years he tells me. He occasionally reminds me of previous visits as we tour his new facility. Its been a time he is very proud of.
