A fine story of grands crus classés...

Bernadette Thumerelle’s Book: A Delightful Blend of Humor and Wine

In her latest book, Bernadette Thumerelle brilliantly incorporates a plethora of French wine references into a humorous love story between a wine enthusiast and a character named Juliénas. Here’s a sneak peek into this charming narrative.

The Story of Great Vintages: A Wine Lover's Tale

“It’s a story I must share with you, if I may say, ‘the Primeur’! It all happened at the Nuit St Georges ball. I met Syrah, who couldn’t take her eyes off the wine catalog, and her cousin, the petite Juliénas, a real Gigondas, a splendid Meursault, well-structured, a grand cru classé, with a vermilion robe and subtle aromas of blackcurrant and wild strawberries.

We danced Anjou against Anjou on a fashionable Sylvaner, and when I suggested taking her to my Châteauneuf-du-Pape, she became quite Croze-Hermitage. As I placed a wool Chablis over her shoulders, tied a little Corton in her curly hair, and didn’t forget her small Barsac in hand, she climbed into my Banyuls in a Fleurie dress.

We drove all night through the Champagne region amidst vast Chambertin fields. By morning, we were too tired to haunt the numerous Châteaux lining the roads: Pétrus, Margaux, Mouton Rothschild, Latour, Lafitte Rothschild, Haut-Brion with its Frontonnais adorned with Vougeot angels. Yet we admired Beaujolais Moulin-à-Vent, which, like us, had wings.

Ah, what a beautiful day! I Fitou to please her. We played colin-Mayard among the Châteauneuf-du-Pape vines. We toured a Buzet, strolled Between-two-Seas, Vacqueyras on the beach, feet in Clairette water, Pouilly-Fuissé in the dunes. As the Mercurey was rising and she began to get Côte-Rôtie, I decided to head back.

But we ended up stuck in traffic. I began to Minervois seriously; soon, Juliénas and I started a Chinon scuffle, and we were Brouilly! She yelled, ‘Cahors!’; ‘I want to get out!’ I stopped. She slammed the Corbières of the Banyuls, which wasn’t a Cadillac, and disappeared.

She had Sauvignon before I could Sauternes her into a soft Lirac with satin sheets! Is this what it means to take a Rasteau? I was left like a Macon, a Pommard, a Condrieu! Nothing to Riesling, on the contrary, I Vouvray cried. But I must react; I must know how to leave my Bourgueil at the locker because Juliénas is the woman of my life. I Jurançon, I’m Tokay, I have her in the Pauillac. Ah! Limoux, always Limoux! And Saint-Pourçain that I ran through Lalande, Faugères, and Chardonnay to find her but Loupiac! No Juliénas! I was sad and very thirsty! I went into a village Cabernet and drank Quatourze glasses of grand crus.

I was Graves drunk but finally found my Banyuls! I slumped on the Blanquette and realized that even in Visan, I couldn’t continue the journey. I slept a long time and then resumed my search. I followed the Bordeaux of a canal and got lost in a dark Arbois, praying to Saint-Joseph and Saint-Estèphe. Behind an old Saumur of stones, I suddenly heard the Pétillant sound of Savoie. I finally found her!

She was there, in Gros-plant: ‘Ah, my Touraine, don’t be a Pomerol, and don’t leave me again, Gamay, I couldn’t bear it.’ She fell into my arms in Madiran as I had never been admired. ‘Don’t blame me,’ she said, ‘I just wanted proof that your Saint-Amour was truly Sancerre!’ Since then, no one knows if it’s cuités… and I de Vinsobres… But allow us, exceptionally, to raise a glass to your health!”

FAQ - Grands crus classés

What is a grand cru classé?

A grand cru classé is a wine from an estate recognised by an official classification, such as the 1855 ranking for Bordeaux wines. This rank rewards a property for the consistency and reputation of its cuvées. It is a mark of prestige that wine lovers actively seek out.

Who wrote this story about the grands crus?

The text is written by Bernadette Thumerelle. She imagines a love affair between a wine lover and a character named Juliénas, weaving dozens of French appellation names into the narrative. The wordplay is a witty tribute to the great crus.

Which wine regions appear in the tale?

The story runs through appellations from across the French vineyard, from Champagne to Bordeaux, taking in the Rhône Valley, Burgundy, Beaujolais and the South-West. Each wine name is turned into a pun along the way.

How are Bordeaux wines classified?

The 1855 classification, drawn up for the Paris World's Fair, ranks the châteaux of the Médoc and the sweet wines of Sauternes into several tiers of crus. It remains a benchmark today, even though other regions have since created their own classifications.

Why buy your grands crus directly from the winemaker?

Buying direct from the winemaker means the estate price, with no middleman or merchant margin. Bottles ship straight from the estate, ensuring better traceability and optimal freshness. It also gives you access to more confidential cuvées.