Master story-teller Raymond Blake ‘On Burgundy’ – Friday 20th October

Burgundy is as fascinating for its people as it is for its wines – the kind of tightly-knit place where everyone knows everyone and intrigue is never far away. Intimate, intricate, but notoriously hard to infiltrate.

But that’s just what our good friend and part-time Burgundy resident, Raymond Blake has done over the course of 20 years spent regularly visiting his second home in Santenay. Over that time, Raymond has steadily worked his way into the inner Burgundian sanctum, befriending winemakers, attending their weddings (sometimes to each other) and sipping and swirling his way to becoming something of an insider.

We’re delighted to welcome Raymond back to the St. James’s Room to regale us on the latest Burgundian goings-on in his trademark style, with a reliance on tales and anecdotes rather than facts and figures. Members can expect an informal tasting that will both entertain and inform, while also giving attendees a deeper understanding of the world’s most fabled wine region via a host of stories gleaned on the ground.

The event coincides with the launch of On Burgundy, an anthology from Académie du Vin Library to which Raymond contributed three chapters. Tickets include a copy of the book, which, like the evening itself, is designed to be enjoyed sitting back with a good glass to hand, rather than at a desk with highlighter pen at the ready.

In addition to contributing three essays to On Burgundy, Raymond also writes regularly for The World of Fine Wine, as well as contributing the Burgundy entries for Hugh Johnson’s Pocket Wine Book. He is the author of three acclaimed wine books: Breakfast in Burgundy; Côte d’Or; and Wine Talk.

We invite you to join him for a very convivial evening laced with Burgundian savoir-faire.

The wines we’ll be tasting:
2019 Domaine Sylvain Pataille, Les Auvonnes au Pépé, Bourgogne Aligoté
2021 Jean-Claude Boisset, Mâcon-Igé Château London
2021 Joseph Drouhin, Bourgogne, Pinot Noir
2021 Domaine de la Pousse d’Or, Chambolle-Musigny, Côte de Nuits
2020 Chassagne-Montrachet, Domaine Philippe Colin, Côte de Beaune
2019 Benjamin Leroux, Bourgogne Rouge
2020 Domaine de la Vougeraie, ‘Terres de Famille’, Bourgogne, Pinot Noir
2020 Château Philippe-Le-Hardi, Saint-Aubin, En Vesvau

Friday 20^th October  
St. James’s Room
18:30 – Glass on arrival
19:00 – Masterclass begins
20:30 – Masterclass ends

Please note that once your order is placed, your ticket status will display as “processing” until after the event, when your member account is then charged. You will receive an email confirmation after ordering your tickets, stating that your order is being processed – please take this as full confirmation that your booking has been finalised. For any questions, please reach out to [email protected].

Please note, tickets are refundable for cancellations up to 48 hours before the event. Cancellations must be made in writing to [email protected]. Any cancellations within 48 hours of the event are non-refundable unless 67 Pall Mall resells the ticket to another Member. This is only possible when the event is sold out and there is a waiting list.