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Travels in Burgundy 2016
it’s that time of year in beaune
The time of year when you should be careful in the evening – as tens of thousands of starlings come to town to roost. Oh, and definitely don’t park under the trees 😉
This morning was largely misty, just the first rays of sun managed to penetrate around lunchtime. I managed to go for a late afternoon jog, camera in hand – there’s still a surprising amount of leaves on the vines – well, it is the 1st of November, after-all! But given a late harvest and late developing shoots after most were frosted off – maybe that’s the reason that they haven’t dropped off yet. It was a nice light between 4 and 5pm on the ‘middle hill’ of Beaune…
to the east or golden? – the côte d’or
 :Yesterday looking down on Volnay and Pommard
There are competing possibilities as to why the Côte d’Or is called the Côte d’Or.
Yesterday afternoon – even without sunshine – showed why so many people consider d’Or to mean gold – the golden slope – but of-course it lasts, at best, for only a couple of weeks per year before all the vines’ leaves are on the floor.
I personally believe that it is a contraction of Côte d’Orient – meaning an east-facing hillside – which the Côte d’Or is. I’ve seen enough middle-ages maps – including of Burgundy – with Côte d’Orient in script on them to persuade me that this is a more valid reason. But this week, at least, I’m also very comfortable with gold!
all meursault in the morning…
Looking towards Puligny this morning…
My first appointment this morning was at 08h00 and in Meursault. And after the torrents of rain yesterday, it was not just dark it was still quite damp. But from the road to Nantoux, just before Pommard, we had low cloud – let’s call it fog! I emerged from Anoine Jobard’s cellar at closer to 09h00, and it was now daylight, and most of the fog had gone – though it seemed to be heading south as I picked it up again in Puligny heading for my coffee.
I love the play of light on one part of the vines as you drive – I tried to take a short video – but re-running it later, it seems I drove a little too fast 🙂
nearly all weekend beaune…
just a little puligny today…
a little santenay, chassagne & bâtard…
early autumn – beaune and pommard
Thursday rained nearly all day, Friday was mainly wet too – but Saturday gave us the chance to walk for the best part of 4 hours around Beaune, and through its vines to Pommard, and (of-course) all the way back again. Some nice bottles were waiting at home for us, but until then, the views were to drink-in too…