The wines pour clockwise: Bourgogne to villages, premier cru to grand cru. The journey begins with the simple yet profound expression of the terroir.
In the first stanza titled "The Table," the wines are described in meticulous detail. Each pour unveils distinct notes — the Bourgogne offers bruised apple, while Rully Village tastes of honey, hinting at its waiting oak. As hails have weathered the grapes, there’s a poetic resilience in these flavors.
Moving through the tasting experience, the poem illustrates the careful balance of tradition and modernity. St-Romain Village is depicted as an outline, a canvas awaiting the wine’s character to fill it out. Monthélie Premier Cru Les Duresses introduces a complexity of translucent lemon curd with a tingle across the tongue, as tasters record their impressions. The camaraderie at the table feels like a game, where each hand of wine dealt brings a new story, an ever-evolving narrative of taste and texture.
In "La Route des Grands Crus," the narrative shifts to a journey through Burgundy’s stunning vineyards. The Côte vibrates with life as the landscape rolls by, showcasing every hue of gold and burgundy. Stops at Chambolle-Musigny reveal deeper roots of the land, and technology intertwines with the artistry of winemaking. Each parcel comes alive on-screen, transforming topographical knowledge into sensory experience.
The poems blend the sensory with the cerebral, merging the tactile experience of tasting fine wine with reflections on the nature of space, time, and community in the world of wine. The exploration of each vineyard and the artistry behind each glass tells a larger story about connection and heritage that reaches beyond mere consumption.