Hauts Les Mains

Written By Anton

Le Manoir Équivocal

My first visit back since its inception, which took place at Jonathan Purcell's Cave. Now it has become a much larger affair with visitors from across the globe. Jonathan has bit by bit created a legendary wine fair: local, great quality, aesthetically pleasing, with nice tunes and food. It's a full-house, man-of-the-match performance, showcasing some of the best winemakers—bringing together outstanding producers from the Jura and Bourgogne.

Vin Noé’s Hauts les Mains is now held at Le Manoir Équivocal. A lovely manor house dating from the 15th century, surrounded by vineyards and nature. Wildflowers abound, aesthetically beautiful. A medium-sized tent—or rather, a simple canopy—was set up on the grounds, and it looked stunning while allowing the breeze to flow through. It felt spacious, which is nice. I never felt crowded, and in fact, you could escape the crowds if you wished and lie on the grass.

On a side note: this would make a great wedding venue for anyone looking in this part of France.

Great day out, though! One of the best fairs around: top-notch wine, stunning location, and excellent food offerings.

 

Hits of the Day

(Note: I only tasted maybe 20–30 wines in total. I used to try and taste as much as possible, but after a few, all sensitivity and freshness are gone.) Below are the three I loved:

  • Maisian Meanad Syrah (Négoce): Grapes sourced from vines next to Hermitage. This was a négoce project, likely forced by last year's catastrophic frosts. Katie only produced two barrels from her own vines. She also produced an epic Pinot Noir from Alsace, but due to the distance required for collecting the grapes, that project probably won’t be continued. The Syrah, however, will hopefully be on for next year, as it is grown closer to her home (chez elle).

  • Yannick Meckert (La Colline aux Schistes) Riesling: From thirty-year-old vines. Honest, totally coherent, round, and complete. Amazing wine—no edges, just a smooth orbital sphere. Probably the best Alsatian wine I’ve tasted.

  • Chanterêves Les Monts de Fussey (Aligoté): From the village of Échevronne. Super nice. I’m a huge fan of Aligoté: fresh, citrusy, and perfect for the summer.

Links

Alex Plassat

Alex Plassat – Tasting Notes

Chardonnay 2023

This wine undergoes a relatively short one-year élevage and is grown on marl soils. , curry plant, and porcini, giving it a distinctive and complex character. it is still quite youngand would benefit from another year or 2 in bottle to fully.

Chardonnay 2022 – Les Betoulles comes from marl du Tria, the oldest clay soils in the Jura, representing an exceptionally ancient terroir.

Le Bois Moisi - is an assemblage of Chardonnay 2020 and 2019 (to be confirmed), sourced from the same parcel as Les Betoulles. After three to four years of bottle ageing,

Yannick Merkert

Yannick Meckert

Yannick’s journey has taken him through formative experiences with Patrick Meyer, Philippe Pacalet, and Le Coste’s Clementine and Gianmarco, as well as time in Japan learning sake-making with the renowned Terada Honke.

He farms 3.5 hectares of classic Alsatian varieties around Obernai, on clay and limestone soils, and also sources organic grapes from trusted friends. In his vineyards, biodiversity is key—he avoids chemicals, copper, and sulphur, instead using clay, plant infusions, and essential oils. Wild herbs, grasses, and flowers are left to flourish, creating vibrant, living ecosystems.

( La colline aux Schistes ) Riesling from thirty year old vines , Honest totally together , round it all there , amazing wine , no edges just a smooth orbital sphere , prob the best Alsatian wine i’ve tasted..

Katie worobeck

Maison Maenad

Notes from the Cellar

Originally from Canada, Katie found her way to wine and organic farming during her studies. After working in Ontario’s vineyards, she moved to France and spent five formative years with Anne and Jean-François Ganevat in the Jura.

She now farms old vines in two prized parcels: Les Varrons (clay-limestone) and Au Carre (limestone-marl), nestled in the forested hills above Grusse. Here she grows Chardonnay, Gamay, and old hybrid varieties, working organically with biodynamic principles, focusing on soil health and increasing biodiversity through tree planting and plans to introduce livestock.

Last year brought a harsh setback—frost reduced her entire harvest to just two barrels: one red and one white.

Chardonnay 2022
Recently racked and set for release by the end of summer, All New Curves is a Chardonnay from Maenad’s own parcel. Raised ouillé (topped-up) and aged for a full three years, this wine promises tension, clarity, and depth. A true expression of patience and place.

Savagnin 2022
A more introspective wine, this Savagnin has undergone two years of élevage, developing structure and character. Subtle, saline, and quietly powerful, it’s a wine that rewards time in the glass.

2024 Négociant Reds

  • Pinot Noir 2024
    From selected négociant fruit, this Pinot shows freshness and elegance. Still young, but already giving glimpses of its potential.

  • Syrah 2024 – Younger Vines
    A more extracted style, showcasing vibrant fruit and spice. Lively and juicy, this Syrah has immediacy and lift.

  • Syrah 2024 – Older Vines
    Sourced from vines neighboring Hermitage—literally one row away from cru-classified territory—

  • 🗺️ How to Get Here

    Le Manoir Équivocal is located at 18 Rue du Manoir, Hameau de Moux, 21700 Corgoloin, France, in the heart of Burgundy’s celebrated Côte d’Or region — between Beaune and Nuits-Saint-Georges. Nestled on a small hillside surrounded by vineyards, the manor is easily accessible by car, train, or bicycle.

    🚗 By Car

    • From Beaune (12 km / 15 min): Take the D974 north toward Nuits-Saint-Georges, then turn left toward Corgoloin. Follow signs for Hameau de Moux and continue uphill to Rue du Manoir.

    • From Nuits-Saint-Georges (8 km / 10 min): Follow the D974 south toward Beaune, then turn right toward Corgoloin and follow signs for Moux.

    • Free parking is available on site.

    🚆 By Train

    • The nearest train station is Nuits-Saint-Georges, with regular regional (TER) connections from Dijon and Beaune.

    • From the station, it’s about a 10-minute taxi ride or 20-minute cycle to the manor.

    • Taxis and bicycle rentals are available locally; we’ll be happy to assist with arrangements upon request.

    ✈️ By Air

    • The closest major airports are:

      • Dijon Bourgogne Airport (DIJ) – 45 min by car

      • Lyon Saint-Exupéry (LYS) – 1 h 45 min by car

      • Geneva (GVA) – approximately 2 h 15 min by car

    🚴 By Bicycle or on Foot

    Le Manoir Équivocal lies along scenic vineyard routes between Côte de Beaune and Côte de Nuits, ideal for cyclists and walkers. The ascent to Moux offers sweeping views of the valley and vines — a beautiful approach for those arriving under their own power.

    📍 GPS Coordinates

    47.1329° N, 4.8972° E

Anton

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