Saluting the Soil

Asked to name the most famous vineyards in France, many wine pros would say the vineyards of the Domaine de la Romanée-Conti (DRC) in Burgundy. The Domaine produces wine from seven tiny Grand Cru parcels: Echézeaux, Grands Echézeaux, Richebourg, Romanée-St. Vivant, Le Montrachet,  La Tâche and Romanée-Conti. The last two vineyards (just 14.8 acres and 4.4 acres respectively) date from the early 16^th century. (Interestingly, the DRC is the sole exception to the French law that prohibits a Burgundian estate from being named after a specific vineyard). So legendary are these seven vineyards that the French military salutes them when passing.