Hospices de Beaune cuvées:
singular terroirs and names steeped in history
Terroir-based wines, the result of several plots or not
Burgundy is the cradle of vins de lieu, or plot-based wines: each one tells the story of its birthplace. That is, as much the land on which our fine Pinot Noir and Chardonnay grapes grow as man's know-how and experience. Hospices de Beaune wines - like our Albert Bichot wines - are no exception, and each reflects an identity, a style and a taste all its own.
However, due to the long tradition of donating vines and the resulting fragmentation of parcels, around two-thirds of Hospices de Beaune wines have a singularity: they result from a judicious and historic blending of several parcels.
For example, the cuvée Beaune 1er Cru Guigone de Salins is made from several plots in Beaune all classified as Premier Cru: Les Bressandes (1.2 ha), Les Seurey (0.83 ha) and Champs Pimont (0.62 ha). Similarly, the Nicolas Rolin Beaune cuvée is a blend of 5 different Premier Crus: Les Cent Vignes, En Genêts, Les Bressandes, Les Grèves and Les Teurons. In both cases, each parcel brings its own particular notes and character to the whole. Technically, each plot is vinified separately in a tank at the Hospices winery but blended just before being put into the new oak barrels that will be sold at the auction in November.
However, around a third of the wines, the most prestigious ones, are more classically made from a single parcel. For example, the Corton Vergennes Grand Cru Cuvée Paul Chanson comes 100% from the 0.28 ha Les Vergennes parcel owned by the Hospices.
At Albert Bichot we know each parcel intimately, its terroirs, its potential and its style. Our first mission at Albert Bichot is therefore to help you choose the cuvée(s) that will suit you at auction.
The names of Hospices de Beaune cuvées: a testimony to History and generosity of donors
Each wine from the Domaine des Hospices de Beaune, both red and white, has a meaningful cuvée name, complementing the appellation, vintage and name of the house that matured the wine after the auction. Schematically, Hospices de Beaune cuvées have two origins.
First, there are wines named after a historical figure linked to the institution's ancient or more recent history. The auction always begins with Beaune 1er Cru cuvée des Dames Hospitalières, in homage to the first community of sisters who cared for the sick shortly after the Hôtel-Dieu was founded in 1443. Another example is Meursault 1er Cru Genevrières Philippe le Bon, a tribute to the Duke of Burgundy Philippe le Bon (1419-1467), who lent his support to the project of his chancellor Nicolas Rolin and his wife.
Then, a great many cuvées bear the name of the donators of the vineyards that make up the cuvée. The memory of these families is thus honored every year. One example is Volnay 1er Cru cuvée Blondeau, named after François Blondeau, who donated all his vineyards to the Hospices in the early 19th century. Another example is Meursault Genevrières cuvée Baudot, whose vines come from the money raised by the sale of Felix Baudot's sumptuous collection of paintings in 1882.