With its cobbled and narrow streets and ancient buildings, the atmosphere inside this old walled city is still largely medieval.
Beaune was founded about 52 B.C as a camp for the army of Julius Caesar. The city became the seat of the dukes of Burgundy until the 13th century and has always been the centre of the Burgundian wine industry, even though it lost political supremacy to Dijon.
Beaune is home to leading negociants ( a wine merchant who buys in grapes, must or wine, and bottle the resulting wine under their own label).
Bouchard Père et Fils, one of the largest landowners in Beaune, was founded in 1731. In 1820, Bouchard Père & Fils acquired the historic Château de Beaune. Construction of the former royal fortress was completed in the 15th century by King Louis XI, and four of the five original rampart towers remain intact to this day. The cellars run 10m deep, which provide the ideal storage conditions for more than 2000 bottles dating from the 19th century, the oldest bottle being a Meursault Charmes 1846!
The company remained in the Bouchard family for nine generations until it was acquired in 1995 by esteemed Champagne producer Joseph Henriot. Over time the Domaine has acquired various terroirs which required patience and care and today boasts 130 hectares of vines, of which 12 are Grand Cru and 74 classed as Premier Cru.
One of Bouchard Père & Fils’ most iconic wines is the Beaune Grèves Vigne de l’Enfant Jésus (or, “vine of the baby Jesus”). The wine is made with grapes from a plot of the same name in the premier cru Beaune Grèves appellation. The title dedication to a Carmelite order called the Domestiques de la Famille du Saint Enfant Jésus. Six months before King Louis XIV was born in 1638, the order founder, Marguerite du Saint Sacrement, predicted his birth. Despite the fact, his mother was 37 years old and had previously given birth to four stillborns. Upon his birth, the order’s most important vineyard was renamed the Vigne de L'Enfant Jésus.
Bouchard Père & Fils and the growers it sources from have been engaging in organic practices since 2000. The grapes are hand-harvested and collected in special crates before being sorted individually (once again by hand) prior to vinification.
During the dark Covid lockdown days of 2020, the Celts wine tasting group that I am a member of tasted these six wines during a masterfully led virtual tasting with the charming and informative Phillip Prost, who has been at Bouchard Père et Fils since 1978. It was the highlight tasting of the year. Is there a better way to understand the nuances of Burgundy by tastings across different climates from the same vintage and producer?
Bouchard Père et Fils is one of 40 Burgundy Domaines that Great Domaines exclusively imports and distribute within South Africa. Great value is attached to nurturing the relationships with each of the producers - not only in order to secure allocations of these very sought after wines but also to build on the strong foundations and friendships that have been built between the parties over the past 21 years. Ultimately this provides Great Domaines with the opportunity to bring these extraordinary wines to our clients.
