Our driver/tour guide David came to Paris to pick us up at the hotel in the morning. With five of us, the agency had arranged a new Benz Vito to accompany us for the Burgundy and Alsace tour. The car was very comfortable and spacious, and it was a happy ride from Paris to our first stop - Chablis, which took about 2.5 hours.
The weather was simply perfect in Chablis, sunny with a little breeze, and we arrived at Domaine Jean-Marc Brocard. This is a producer specializing in different wines of Chablis and the surrounding region. Meeting our guide in the estate, he took us to the underground cellar to look at what made Chablis special - the kimmeridgian layer which brings the mineral charcters to the wine. 
We then proceeded to the winery to understand more their winemaking process. In this domaine, they have wines matured in four different devices: the most traditional large old oak barrels, stainless steel vats, small new oak barrels and the concrete egg-shaped small vats.
Depending on the style wanted, different devices are used, with the old barrels providing some development of the wines making it rounder and richer, the stainless steel retaining the 'true' flavors and freshness of the grapes, the small barrels imparting a strong oak influence and creaminess and the concrete 'egg' reserving for special parcels of biodynamic wines. 
After that we went up the estate building at the nice balcony, in which the breathtaking views of the Chablis vineyards greeted us. A brief explanation of the difference in Petit Chablis, Chablis, Chablis 1er Cru and Chablis Grand Cru was provided, which helped us to appreciate the classification.
Then it was the time to taste the wines. A total of 6 wines were tasted, including Petit Chablis 2011, Chablis 2011, Chablis 1er Cru Montmains 2010, Chablis 1er Cru Vaulorent 2010, Chablis Grand Cru Les Clos 2009 and Chablis Grand Cru Les Preuses 2009. Personally I like the 1er Cru Montmains and Grand Cru Les Preuses the most, with crisp acidity and good floral and fruit characters. During the tasting, the current owner, Julien Brocard, also came by to say hello to us.
Feeling hungry, we then had lunch in the estate, at the VIP room looking at the gorgeous vineyards outside. The food was all Chablis delicacies prepared by the chef at the estate, in family style, and were paired with two magnums: Chablis 1er Cru Vaulorent 2006 and Chablis 2008. I also requested to try their red produced in Irancy and so two more bottles were provided. The food was so good we all had eaten a lot, and the ladies also passed some to Benny and me (no wonder we got fat after this trip).
Before leaving, I bought a bottle of 2009 Les Preuses and having Julien autographed on the bottle for me. At Euro 42, it was quite a bargain as the same wine is selling in HK at $630.
We continued our journey to Beaune, taking another 1.5 hours. Finally arriving our destination, Hotel Athanor, which is located in the heart of the town's historic centre. It is a former Benedictine convent dating back to the 16th century. Grace and Carmen actually stayed in the older building, built in the 16th century, and the rest of us in the newer building built in the 17th century. 
Still early, we went for a walk around the town, going to different shops to check out souvenirs and other interesting stuff. There is a nice garden in which we saw a merry-go-round and nice flowers.
Our dinner was arranged at les Caves Madeleine, a nice small restaurant serving simple but good food and a good range of wines. The owner Laurent Brelin introduced the menu to us, and I chose a Volnay 1er Cru Les Champans 2009. 
(to be continued...) 
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