Dutchman, Hans Meijboom, is a real wine enthusiast who particularly loves wines from Burgundy, his adoptive home, where he opened his restaurant, Les Maritonnes.

In 2010 we had the privilege of advising him in his purchase of a pièce (barrel) of one of the 45 cuvées (wines) from the Domaine des Hospices de Beaune.

 

Hans relates his experience: I already knew of the Maison Albert Bichot‘s reputation, but I’d never had the opportunity to participate in the Hospices de Beaune wine auction. I carried out an online search and came across the www.hospices-beaune.com website. I then went up to Beaune to meet Jean-David CAMUS to discuss my potential purchase. After running through my preferences and my restaurant’s budget and cuisine (which the purchased wine would have to complement), we together agreed to go for the Volnay Premier Cru cuvée Blondeau, a wine full of subtlety and grace. We set a maximum bid and on the evening before the sale, Jean-David sent me a short email to let me know that my bid had been placed! It’s a really straighforward process!

Hans Meijboom took the opportunity of a trip to Beaune in spring 2011 to visit the Maison Albert Bichot’s Hospices wine ageing cellar with Jean-David Camus. During the visit he was able to taste his wine and discuss its ageing progress. In Autumn 2011 his labels will be personalised, as purchasers can have their ‘buyer’s name’ added to the mythical, official Hospices wine label, if they so wish.

If you happen to be passing through Romanèche-Thorins, we recommend you visit  Les Maritonnes Hotel-Restaurant to sample the delicious cuisine. And, in a few months’ time, the wine list will even feature a Volnay Cuvée Blondeau whose story you now know! In the meantime, here’s a short video of this pleasant encounter…