A TRULY EXCEPTIONAL VISIT AT ROMANÉE-CONTI
By LINCOLN SILIAKUS riding Solex
I had hoped to do the trip through the Côtes du Nuits logically, from north to south. But when the owner of La Romanée-Conti, Aubert de Villaine offered to see me on the first day, I decided to base myself in the middle at Vougeot and ply the Côte.
His personal assistant met me as I wheeled Solex through the Domaine de la Romanée-Conti’s red gates. He guided me into a simple, elegant meeting room. A moment later, before I had time to get even more nervous, de Villaine appeared. « In my generation, everyone had a velosolex, » he said. « It brings back memories. I had one when I was 20 years old. » Although he’s tall, he doesn’t look down at you. Today he is dressed in simple blue cotton trousers and a clean cotton trekking shirt.
I suggest that we wheel Solex up to the cross at Romanée-Conti. He laughs when I say I want a photo of him with it. « The view from the top over there, up by the wall, is great. Sorry I don’t have time to go up there today. »
I ask if facing east makes a difference. « This is what makes Burgundy what it is. » We pass a small bare field.
« Yes, this plot is ours. We pulled out the vines last year. We are going to let it sit like that for four or five years, then plant it. That means they’ll be wine in the bottle in about 20 years. » (suite…)
The 
The Time and Date: Wednesday, April 22, 2009 1 PM to 5 PM
Pour les propriétés non touchées, il s’agit de vendre aux viticulteurs qui ont été grêlés un tombereau de vendanges pour 1 € symbolique. Un logo Pacte de Solidarité Côtes de Bourg sera apposé sur les bouteilles des propriétés participant à cette opération. Tout comme pour le commerce équitable, le consommateur sera informé de la démarche de solidarité et pourra donner préférence à ces vins.