Domaine Thibault Liger-Belair Bourgogne 'Les Grands-Chaillots' 2016

The first visit to the hallowed ground of Burgundy is a special one. The region is the high-altar to Pinot Noir and Chardonnay and stretches from the outer suburbs of Dijon to Macon in the south at the northern border of Beaujolais. The vivid Chardonnay wines of Chablis are an outlier, situated some 105km to the north-west of Dijon on stark kimmeridgian” limestone. The hallowed ground of the Côte-d'Or is neatly split in two by the town of beaune. To the north lies the Côte de Nuits, home to 24 Grand Cru vineyards; Pinot Noir rules here. To the south of Beaune lies the Côte de Beaune where Chardonnay plays a more dominant role with seven of the eight Grand Cru vineyards producing white wine. Value is to be found further south in the appellations of Côte Chalonnaise and the Mâconnais. Local Knowledge” A meal at Ma Cuisine in Beaune is a must or visit Beaune markets, stock up on provisions and have a picnic at the ‘secret’ picnic table above the famous ‘Cros Parantoux’ vineyard in Vosne-Romanée.