Hospices de Beaune
Arblaster & Clarke Wine Tours barrel of 2010 Volnay at the Faiveley cellars
Anthony Hanson M.W. & Roland Masse in the Hospices vineyards
Vineyards of the Hospices de Beaune, Côte de Beaune
Maison Joseph Drouhin traditional wine press
Burgundy Hospices de Beaune "Syndicate" Tour
26 - 30 June 2012
In conjunction with Anthony Hanson M.W. of Christie’s Wine International
For at least the past 16 years, every November, A&C clients have been travelling to France to participate in the Trois Glorieuses festivities set around the famous Hospices Vente des Vins auction in Beaune. It is not however the ideal time to taste these wines as they are very young at that time. This tour, being in the following June is a much better time to taste the wines and also to enjoy this beautiful region. The tour will be led by Charles Metcalfe, one of the co-Chairmen of the International Wine Challenge, though also known as a wine broadcaster and for his singing abilities, having been an Opera singer early in his career (like his friend, Oz Clarke).
Our tasting of the Hospices wines will show that the Domaine must now be considered among the top flight of Burgundy domaines. Anthony Hanson MW of Christie’s and renowned Burgundy expert, has arranged for us to spend a morning with Monsieur Roland Masse, (regisseur of the Domaine de Hospices de Beaune), exploring the Hospices vineyards and having an in depth tasting. Roland is responsible for all the Hospices vineyards and for the winemaking; to be able to spend a whole morning with him and Anthony Hanson MW, is an extraordinarily wonderful thing for any wine lover to do.
Other visits will include Faiveley and we hope to lunch or have dinner at Maison Joseph Drouhin, dine with Bouchard Père et fils; and have special visits and wine tastings to Charles’ selection of small stellar domaines that are not open to the general public.
This tour also offers the chance, to join our syndicate that has just bought a barrel of 2011 ‘Beaune 1er Cru Cuvée Guigone de Salins’ at the Hospices auction.The five day tour will be hosted by renowned wine expert, Charles Metcalfe, one of the co-Chairmen of the International Wine Challenge. We’ll visit Charles’s selection of great négociants and smaller domaines. These will include prestigious lunches and dinners tasting and drinking some of the finest Burgundies available.
One evening, there is the option to attend ‘Musique et Vin au Clos Vougeot’. This concert (with soloists from the Metropolitan Opera, New York) is followed by a dinner and an auction hosted by Anthony Hanson. Under the hammer will be great wines by the bottle, donated by some of Burgundy’s top domaines to raise money for ‘The Young Soloists’.
2011 was the 151st wine auction at the Hospices in Beaune – making it the world’s oldest most continuous auction. The auction consists uniquely of wine from the Hospices vineyards sold in barrels containing the equivalent of 24 cases of wine (288 × 75cl bottles). The auction is run by Christie’s, the London auction house, and its team of world-renowned wine specialists including Burgundy wine expert, Anthony Hanson MW. Funds raised go to the hospital, the historic Hôtel-Dieu and its museum of treasures.
It was Anthony’s suggestion that we invite our clients to participate in a wine buying syndicate, with Anthony to advise us on the choice of wines, host the tasting in London and indeed to bid at the auction on our behalf. This was just too good an opportunity to miss and the thrill of watching the auction was really exciting. Anthony Hanson MW is, of course, widely considered world-wide to be one of the foremost authorities on Burgundy – indeed our own Tim Clarke has been enjoying reading and learning from his superb writings on the subject for the past 25 years or so. Arblaster & Clarke Wine Tours and their clients will be the proud owners of one of these historic barrels.
The 2011 Vintage
In 2011, after a cold but dry winter in Burgundy, February and March were also cool, but not so that the growth of the vine was halted. Then it came to April, the heat and sun meant that the bud break was unusually early and development of the shoots was fast. This is not necessarily bad news for the vintage. The good weather continued into May, and flowering was also early but all in all there is even ripeness and the fruit has had a good gestation period. Whilst some other crops are suffering, vines with established root systems are not showing signs of hydric stress. June & July were both not as hot as usual, with July being wetter and colder – though there was not enough rain to worry winemakers and an early harvest began in August. It is widely appreciated that an early harvest is better than a late harvest. ‘August makes the quality’ so we shall see – with the early harvest it is as much about the winemaker as the weather. September tends to have warmer days at the beginning and therefore the grapes speed towards maturity faster than if the fruit had come to ripeness later in the year – closing the door on optimum maturity faster and therefore, especially with the whites, meaning that the winemaker must look carefully at his vineyard parcels.
We are also invited as private guests to attend the ‘Musique et Vin au Clos Vougeot’ (tickets are not on sale to the general public for the dinner, this is invitation only). At the charity auction after dinner, some of the greatest wines of Burgundy donated by some of Burgundy’s top domaines to raise money for The Young Soloists are under the hammer. This fourth edition of the festival echoes the spirit which has prevailed since it was launched; friendship with great performers and with lovers of the great wines of Burgundy. It is also a rare moment when great musicians, French and American, share music so spontaneously.
The 2011 concert began the creation of a fund with a goal to buy string instruments of high quality and lend them to young musicians aged 9 to 12, for international competitions, first recordings or concerts. This is to help youngsters from under-privileged social backgrounds. This concert (with soloists from the Metropolitan Opera, New York) is followed by a private gala dinner and then a bi-lingual charity auction, hosted by Anthony Hanson MW, of individual great and rare bottles of wine donated by THE top estates in Burgundy (specific domaines vary year to year but in the past have included Domaine de la Romanée Conti).
We do hope that you will be able to join us on this rare and special wine journey to share with us these wonderful wines, some great music and our sheer passion for everything that is great about Burgundy!
Itinerary
Day 1 – Tuesday 26 June
You are free to make your own choice of travel to the region.
This evening, we’ll meet at the 4* hotel for a welcome glass of Champagne, then stroll to the cellars of Bouchard Père et Fils for our private dinner and first tasting across their range up to Grand Cru level and including their famous Beaune Premier Cru, La Vigne de L’Enfant Jesus. As we are accompanied by Charles Metcalfe, and they know that we are now proud owners of a great barrel from the 2011 hospices auctions, of course Bouchard will ensure that special vintages are opened!
Day 2 – Wednesday 27 June
Today after our first visit and tasting in the Côte de Nuits, we visit Faiveley, in Nuits-St-George to see our very own 2011 Hospices barrels and hear about their progress, taste our wine and a further selection of superb wines from Faiveley.
We continue to a special invitation to lunch at Domaine de la Vougeraie.
In the afternoon there is free time to explore Beaune, perhaps take a tour of the Hôtel-Dieu in Beaune town centre or just relax at our hotel in Beaune.
This evening is also free in Beaune.
Day 3 – Thursday 28 June
Today we will visit Charles Metcalfe’s personal selection of small high quality domaines and enjoy a fabulous lunch at a Michelin starred restaurant. This evening we have dinner at the prestigious and well respected Maison Joseph Drouhin.
(Last year Tim Clarke travelled out to Burgundy just for the day to take part in this unique Burgundy wine moment!)
Day 4 – Friday 29 June
This morning we are joined by Anthony Hanson MW and Roland Masse, Regisseur of the Domaine de Hospices de Beaune for a visit to the vineyards of the Hospices.
We return to Beaune for lunchtime, with time to explore and relax before the late afternoon/early evening departure for the concert with mezzo soprano Joyce DiDonato.
This evening there is a private invitation to the Gala event of ‘Musique et Vin au Clos Vougeot’. Further details of the concert will be available nearer the date. This is followed by dinner prepared by the Clos Vougeot chefs and accompanied by the finest Burgundies. The after dinner charity auction of special rare bottles has Anthony Hanson MW as the auctioneer.
Day 5 – Saturday 30 June
Breakfast at the hotel.
Depart on your choice of transport.
See the video of Anthony Hanson MW talking about the Hospices de Beaune Auction and his views on the Burgundy 2010 vintage from the 2011 Burgundy Hospices Wine Buying Syndicate.
This is a unique experience and a maximum of 20 participants will be able to join the tour. The order of the visits may change and some of the domaines have yet to confirm, though these are all estates at which A&C are warmly welcomed.
26 - 30 June 2012
£1,999.00 
per person
Places available.Burgundy Wine Tour Price Includes:
4 nights 3* hotel Beaune, with breakfast. (Upgrade to a 4* if required, £250 per person, please advise at time of booking).
4 meals with wines in total.
Morning guided tour of the Hospices vineyards in the company of Anthony Hanson M.W.
Charles Metcalfe, leading wine expert, as Arblaster & Clarke Wine Guide.
An Arblaster & Clarke Wine Tours bi-lingual Tour Manager.
Gala dinner, tasting, concert and auction (of individual bottles from THE top estates) is £250 per person, if required please advise at time of booking.
Your participation in the Syndicate It is not possible to participate in this tour without being part of the barrel buying syndicate, so a minimum of the equivalent of one 12 bottle case per person is required. Each participant on the tour must commit to at least 12 bottles (x 75cl) at 600 euros (payable at the time of booking).
Sole Occupancy: £200 at 3* hotel or £320 at 4* hotel.
Upgrade: To superior rooms at 4* in twin share, £250 per person.
Gala Dinner and Concert: £250
Travel: Meet at BeauneSole Occupancy: £200 at 3* or £320 at 4*
Deposit: £500.00
Room Upgrade: £250.00
Burgundy Hospices de Beaune "Syndicate" Tour
The Wine Buying Syndicate details
The cost of your part of the barrel is: €600 per 12 bottles. The minimum purchase is one case.
The euros for the wines must be deposited by bank transfer into Arblaster & Clarke Wine Tours Euro account held in the UK and paid at the time of the main booking. This amount cannot be paid in any other currency and you must ensure that your bank does not deduct any fees from the amount to be deposited so that the full amount is received into our account. Please call if you would like to be put on the waiting list for more than one case per person. Bank details will be provided at time of booking.
The price of your 12 bottle case of 2011 Beaune 1er Cru Cuvée Guigone de Salins includes:
- The wine & 19.6% French VAT.
- 7% buyers premium & 19.6% French VAT on the premium.
- Storage and ‘elevage’ of the barrel by Faiveley & 19.6% French VAT.
- The cost of the barrel that wine is to be stored in.
- Bottling into standard 75cl bottles
- All wines will be labelled as the Arblaster & Clarke Wine Syndicate with the classic Hospices de Beaune wine labels, appropriate to the appellation.
Collecting your wines – Spring 2013
Collection / delivery is not included.
The wine will be ready for bottling, plus collection or delivery in the spring of 2013. As soon as we have a specific date we will contact you to ask if you would like it delivering, with all the costs involved for UK deliveries only and who these payments should be made to. You can also go and collect it personally, perhaps join an A&C vineyard walk or other trip to Burgundy as an excuse to do so!
Wine price does not include:
Any costs connected with collection or delivery of the wines.
Within the EU there will be no duty to pay if the wines are for personal consumption. Non-EU importers should check with their own authorities.
Hotels:
3* Hotel, central Beaune
Situated a short walk from the city walls and just around the corner from our 4* hotel, this is a characterful 3*. Although situated near a main road into Beaune, there is good double glazing and noise is not noticeable. Rooms are traditionally decorated. French breakfast is served to you in the breakfast room or courtyard but do ask if you require eggs or fruit!
4* Hotel, central Beaune, upgrade choice
This traditional Hotel is situated just outside Beaune’s medieval walls. It has been redecorated in the last few years in warm colours with modern bathrooms. It has an excellent brasserie and restaurant and superb, spacious bar (our favourite hotel bar in France!).
After the 10th April 2012, our room allocation will be reduced for the hotel for this tour. Although there may be space on the tour after this date, you may be offered alternative accommodation. Therefore early booking is strongly recommended for the best price and to ensure availability on the included travel and at the main tour hotels.
Travel Details
Transport to Burgundy is not provided in order to give you maximum flexibility, but please see some of our tips below:-
Drive: It is an easy days drive to Beaune from Calais. Beaune is 613 km from Calais (of which 600 km is on motorways). Visit www.viamichelin.com for directions. We provide local directions to the hotel with your final itinerary. Travel Dover-Calais with P&O (Tel: 08705 20 20 20 www.poferries.com) or Folkestone-Calais with Le Shuttle (Tel: 01303 272222 www.eurotunnel.com). Once in France it is a five and a half hour drive to Beaune. Champagne is en route so you could stop off and stock up on some Champagne on your way!
Train: Take the Eurostar to Paris then TGV from Paris Gare de Lyon to Beaune, which takes between 2:15 and 2:30 hours. You can book the train from three months before departure on www.raileurope.com We can book trains for you for a £35 per booking administration fee, plus full payment is due at time of booking.
Do please check with the office when booking your return train to ensure that it fits in with the complimentary transfer (see below).
Please call us for further details and suggestions, we will be happy to book your transport, or assist you in making your own arrangements. We are very happy to quote for train travel, and to book these for you (the full price will be payable along with an administration charge in order to book these and these are non-refundable and non changeable).
In the event of your cancellation:
The normal cancellation conditions apply to the tour, but there is no refund on the wine bought in the syndicate, and so you would be entitled to your share of the wine under the same conditions as the rest of the party in the event of your cancellation.
Early booking is essential in order to guarantee the availability of the wine and all payments for the wine must be received with your booking form.
Wine Notes...
Click here to read wine notes by Tim Clarke and Andrew Williams on wine regions visited.
