Wine: Chardonnay from Chateau de Chassagne-Montrachet

[Mike Buckley]

Winery: Chateau de Chassagne-Montrachet
Year: 2010 (a stellar vintage)
Grape: Chardonnay

This wine was made at the winery that takes its name from its village, Chassagne-Montrachet. Though the estate, which was established in the 13th century, makes wine from grapes grown in several Grand Cru and Premier Cru vineyards, this particular wine was not.

Many villages in the Burgundy winemaking region changed their official name in the 19th century to include the appended name of the village’s most famous vineyard. As an example, Puligny and Chassagne changed their names to Puligny-Montrachet and Chassagne-Montrachet. That is because the Grand Cru vineyard named Montrachet was so famous (still true today) that its name attracted visitors. Both villages took the name of the vineyard because it is situated on both sides of the border separating them. Though I have enjoyed many chardonnays made in Puligny-Montrachet, I look forward to tasting this wine, my first chardonnay made in Chassagne-Montrachet.

[gregj1763]

That's beautiful lighting Mike and an interesting story and I'm on my way, make sure it's nicely chilled

[Shadowman]

Nicely done.

[Mike Buckley]

Thank you to Greg and John!

[Donald]

I'll be driving around these vineyards in June when I go to Burgundy for 2 weeks. If Mike produces these great images of the finished product in the bottle, I'll try and apply some landscape skills to getting images of the raw material growing in the fields.

[Mike Buckley]

Looking forward to your images, Donald! Does news of your trip to Burgundy mean that you have postponed your trip to Canada?

[Donald]

Looking forward to your images, Donald! Does news of your trip to Burgundy mean that you have postponed your trip to Canada?

Yep, for the moment, Mike. My wife's health situation at the moment means that a trip too far away from home is not really an option at this stage. From Burgundy we can get home relatively quickly if needs be.

[Mike Buckley]

OFF TOPIC

Completely understandable, Donald. You have probably thought of a couple ideas about the possibility of having to unexpectedly change your trip plans but I'll toss them out just in case not.

My wife and I never bought trip-cancellation insurance until we did so last year and this year. That's because she is expecting to have minor eye surgery conducted at the time and convenience of her eye, not her.

We also maintain the kind of insurance that provides an airplane with medical staff and equipment for emergency transport to a medical facility. Agreeing to a five-year contract several years ago reduced the annual cost to about USD $160 per year. Now we hope we never to have to use the emergency transport and, if we do, that the company remains in business.

[Kaye Leggett]

I think we need to see an image of the poured wine too....... if it lasts that long of course! And doesn't end up too warm and spoilt in the photographic process.

Lovely shots - my mouth is watering - it would have made a nice accompaniment to the lunch I have just had.

[Mike Buckley]

Thank you, Kaye.

Allow me please to dispel two myths about wine.

The first myth is that opened wine doesn't last long. The glass of wine used in Wine: Drop of Gold was in my makeshift studio for more than two days before I returned it to the half-empty bottle and drank it that night. It was an inexpensive sauvignon blanc. I and my wife know it well and we couldn't detect any difference in the taste. We routinely drink half the wine in a bottle and finish off the rest of the bottle a week later, when it is often better than when initially opened.

Similarly, any heat in a studio using hot lights that the photographer could withstand would not adversely affect the wine. Having said that, I use compact fluorescent bulbs, which are not hot, and a speedlight for other reasons.

[Kaye Leggett]

I was more worried that a poured wine of glass may be a little too tempting for the photographer.........

You could do a full series of the drinking process. You have the unopened bottle already and the empty glasses already, I see the opened bottle and full glass, empty bottle/empty glass but that has had wine in it and probably a few other combinations....... Just a thought in case you're thinking about developing the theme.

[Mike Buckley]

I'm always happy to receive ideas of prospective themes, Kaye. Thanks for mentioning yours!