20 Dec 2010

Burgundy under snow


I was in Burgundy very recently, and it struck me how much easier it is to read the subtle nuances in the topography of the vineyards when they are under a lie of fresh snow. "Climats" are what the Burgundians call their various tiny plots of land, often walled, which have apparently minute variations of slope and orientation, as well as small differences in the textures of their soil compositions (the latter hidden by the snow, of course). These are the bricks that go to build the shimmering wall of Burgundy's wines in their infinite themed variations.



(all photographs by David Cobbold)


3 comments:

  1. Here you have been caught red-handed, Mr Cobbold!
    Weren’t you the one to claim you didn’t believe in the ground’s composition being such an important factor (and with some strong elements to prove your point)? And now, an ode to the Burgundian “climats” !!!! To be honest, I’m only half sure myself.
    Explain.

    Anyway, lovely pictures: Ich gratuliere. And that’s of the essence.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Well, Monsieur Charlier, I have to say that is is a great comfort to know that you are out there checking on the upper dead points of both soil and internal combustion piston engines. There is something symbolic in the snow blanket covering the soil in these pictures that should give you a lead there. The soil is invisible, hence immaterial and not integrated to the pattern of these "climats" which, after all, refer first and foremost to the climate, in other words the meso-climate, that includes slope and orientation above and beyond dirt and geology. But we are never sure of anything, are we?

    ReplyDelete
  3. I see : meso-climate ...
    May I suggest meso-potomania as one of my favorites as well ? “Avec modération”, of course.

    ReplyDelete