I was very sorry yesterday, to hear that Jean Gros, the great patriarch of Vosne-Romanée, had died.

I can recall drinking no-more than half a dozen wines that he produced, but they remain twinkling stars in my memory. RIP…

Joseph Henriot was certainly a giant of more than one (wine) stage, and Jancis offers a wider perspective of his works than any Burgundy specialist could:

• http://www.jancisrobinson.com/articles/joseph-henriot-dies

I remember an anecdote from Philippe Prost who was wine-maker at the time of the Henriot acquisition of Bouchard Père et Fils, Philippe related that Joseph Henriot told everyone to put their wish-list on the table for dragging Bouchard back into the top quality level. Philippe’s list extended to xxx new barrels to be bought for the forthcoming vintage. Joseph looked him in the eye and asked – “But in a perfect world, what would you have asked for?” – “300 more new barrels, in addition to the ones I’ve already asked for” replied Philippe. Joseph paused and then said – “Okay, well you’d better go order them then…”

The fine portrait (right) is courtesy Jon Wyand.

See also these:

• http://www.winespectator.com/webfeature/show/id/51552
• http://www.decanter.com/news/wine-news/588253/champagne-and-burgundy-great-joseph-henriot-dies

#Beaune : Joseph Henriot est décédé #Bouchard#vin#wine#viticulturehttp://t.co/I2ZJQKyhtApic.twitter.com/cFL2GT4pGV

— Le Bien Public 🗞️ (@Lebienpublic) April 30, 2015

Refusal to spray vines lands Thibault Liger-Belair in court – reports winesearcher http://t.co/yPuvOnraXU

— 🅱️ill nanson (@billnanson) April 30, 2015

It was reported that Anne-Claude Leflaive died during the Easter holidays – Jeremy Seysses being the first to publicly relay the news as far as I know. Purely by chance, I drank her 2011 Mâcon-Verzé the day before – and it was perfectly delicious.

Within 2 hours of Jeremy’s tweet, I was asked by one website if I could write a small piece about her – but I declined – not because I thought it a little shabby and rushed, though maybe I did a little – I much prefer something a little more considered and discreetly later – but the real reason was that I didn’t feel qualified. Although I’ve tasted at Domaine Leflaive at least 7 or 8 times, it’s always been with Pierre, Eric or Antoine – of-course I’ve shaken the hand of Anne-Claude a number of times, but I didn’t really know her; she said little and always stayed in the background. Of-course, I don’t need to know her in order to appreciate the way she has significantly remodelled a great old domaine – magnificently, and with real purpose too. All vintages offer the potential for disappointment, but Anne-Claude has ensured that Domaine Leflaive have all they need to be at the pinnacle of Puligny, indeed the pinnacle of Burgundy. I wish those that take up the formidable reins of Domaine Leflaive all success.

Although people differ on what ‘type’ was the cause, everybody seems sure that Anne-Claude succumbed to cancer. Some say that she was also trying to treat her cancer in a more biodynamic way – cancer is cruel and Anne-Claude was only 59 – but if this unequivocally principled approach made Anne-Claude feel better, even if only spiritually – then good for her.

I will find an appropriate time to toast her!