Market and Wine

Rain greeted us this morning but couldn't deter the intrepid travelers. First order of business was the Saturday Market that consumed most of central Beaune. What a display of vegetables, meats, cheeses, fruit, nuts and flowers. We were especially drawn to the radishes and cauliflower and to the chickens displayed with their head and feet intact. Even though a light rain fell the entire time we were at the market, we thoroughly enjoyed it. 

After a quick dry-off at the hotel we boarded the bus for the village of Puligny-Montrachet about 15 minutes south of Beaune. What a treat was in store for us. We gathered for lunch at a hotel/restaurant/wine tasting bar operated by the Leflaive brothers Patrick amd Oliver. Both actualy stopped to great our group. For 3 1/2 hours we tasted six different wines, each paired with a food course. Absolutely incredible. Charles led our tasting describing each wine and the differences between them. While some wines were more enjoyable than others, they all were good.

But the food really stood out. We anticipated a light lunch but could barely move after the final spoonful of decadent chocolate mousse hit our stomachs. Everything was wonderful. Well maybe the overpowering (think stinky feet) cheese was a bit much but it too had its own character that added to the experience. With Janice's help, Julie got the name of the terrific greens served with the creamed haddock. The extraordinary lunch took care of any dinner plans and left us gastronomically satisfied for the rest of the day. 

On the return trip to Beaune, Steve described the vineyards we passed, noting how generational ownership over the centuries had left some family members with sometimes just two or three rows of grapes. It was instructive to observe the wide cultivation variation in each block of grapes because there were so many different individuals managing the vines.