Cheers to a Memorable Tasting

I’ve been blessed to have a great many amazing wine tasting experiences, but this past year, I helped lead a trip to France with a group of cyclists, and, in that role, I helped set up what I had hoped would be a truly unique leisure cycling tour of Burgundy vineyards.

We gathered the group of about 20 cyclists and non-cyclists alike in Gevrey Chambertin at the northern end of the Route des Grands Crus. This road runs parallel to the highway, but it is more of a country road that leads along many of the grand cru vineyards of northern Burgundy. It is generally downhill from Gevrey Chambertin to Vosne Romanée where we planned to stop. At least, that’s what we believed and also what we had assured the group. “An easy bike ride with great views and then we’ll head to dinner!”

We had rented leisure bikes, and we brought maps detailing the vineyards. Our plan was to stop along the route at notable vineyards and taste a wine made from grapes grown in that vineyard while looking at the maps and standing in the vineyards. It was going really well, and the group was having a great time. Until, the route we plotted took a turn up a dirt road and started to climb steeply. Our goal with this detour was to visit a little known vineyard called “Combe d’Orveau” which is situated right on the edge of another special, but more well-known, vineyard called “Le Musigny.” I remember thinking, “I didn’t think this road was quite so steep, nor quite so long, when we were discussing the route!” I could hear from the overall change in timbre within group that they also hadn’t thought we’d be doing such a strenuous climb. By the time we got over the hill, everyone was sweating, some were walking their bikes, and, generally speaking, the fun had slowed to a trickle if not a full stop! But, we had arrived at the vineyard at last and we opened a bottle of Perrot Minot’s “Combe d’Orveaux” and poured a taste for everyone. It was astounding. In my memory, it was the best wine of the whole trip, made all the more incredible by the work that had to be done to get to this vineyard.

Truth be told, it’s always been one of my favorite wines, but it was that bike ride that made me realize how truly special this vineyard was. It’s so small it can go nearly unnoticed, and its reputation dwarfed by its Grand Cru neighbors. But this little vineyard, on a hill you wouldn’t realize was this drastic until you biked it, can produce some of the most amazing Pinot Noir on the planet!

Andy Chabot, Food and Beverage Director