In the early afternoon, you hire a car from Active Tour. It’s right at the entrance to the Bouzaize park. The route is accessible, and the wine-growing countryside unfolds peacefully. It’s a bit of a climb, but you’ve had your fill of ham with parsley, so you’ll need to limit yourself. You then head to the Clos de la Belle Châtelaine, a confidential address hidden between the black pines of the Montagne. And yes, coming to Beaune is a bit like breathing the mountain air (in all modesty, our mountain culminates at 385m). But back to the Clos de la Belle Châtelaine. Jean-Louis Martin welcomes you there like an old friend. He is a real enthusiast for terroir, in the sense of the nourishing soil which, if we take care of it, offers us exceptional products. His Clos is a love affair between him and the land. He has transformed this beautiful natural space without robbing it of its identity. To begin with, he wanted to plant a truffle garden with hornbeam, beech, oak and hazel trees. To keep them company, he planted around thirty fruit trees in his orchard: apples, pears, pears, apricots, cherries, plums, almonds, kiwis, figs, not forgetting sour cherries, perfect for making brandy. But what really makes his eyes shine are the red fruits: raspberries, redcurrants,and above all the blackcurrant, the emblem of Burgundy. Then came the permaculture vegetable garden with its légendar salads, leeks, tomatoes…. Jean-Louis doesn’t just grow things: he also transforms them. He explains the importance of respecting the earth, which thrives without us. At the end of the visit, a dégustation takes place in a convivial atmosphere, à the image of the house. Jean-Louis generously shares his story, his secrets about blackcurrants, the orchard, the vines and his love for the region.A magical place, cut off from the world.
