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From
the dawn of times in BERCY...
to the end of the 20th Century,
SOME BOTTLES FULL OF HISTORY
In
1991,
in the town of Bercy, at the edge of the French Capital, the
Archaeological Mission of 'Le Vieux
Paris'
discovered a lot of 6,000 years old decorated bottles left by, our first
Parisian ancestors. **** In 1891, ,, , who came from an old family of wine growers from the Saône Valley, offered wine to his Parisian customers in both barrels and in sealed bottles for over thirty years. |
At
this same time, François-Marius, Michel's second son and a wise
traveller, vt,as searching throughout the Old Continent for high quality products... ....
Saint-Petersburg, Antwerp, Madeira... Although François-Alarius was frequently seen in the West Indies, he was also quite fond of Martinique (called MADININA, in the sing-song dialect of the beautiful Indians). It was here were the 'IHabitations' (big Plantations of Sugar Cane) were flourishing. *** A cataclysm, on May 8th 1902, the eruption of lPelée Mount brought a quick end to François' charrning business trips to Martinique. Fortunately, however, either by chance or by premonition, he managed to bring back- from his last trip in Saint-Pierre Martinique... an exceptional lot of Cane brandy "pure vesou", harwest in 1895 and aged 7 years in wood. |
Years later, the Clerk of the Commerce Court in Paris recorded in his Registers a beautiful Christian name for this liquid pleasure, ‘’RHUM MARTINIQUE FROM THE MADININA PLANTATIONS‘’. *** 0ver the years, some of the bottles full of history were left behind in one of the most beautiful winehouse in Bercy...... a building Iocated cour Louis Proust, which was still hiding the façade of the behind rows of barrels up until a few months ago. This Résidence (1) built in 1710 by the last Duke of Gesvres - remains the ultimate testimony of the "Bercy ot the Kings" and its gallant celebrations. (1) It was highlied after a partial restauration of the façade in the 'Garden of Bercy's Memory . |
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| In
its past, this building housed many
its past, this building housed many generations of vintage wines and old spirit
growers.
Today, the great grandsons of Michel Fanton, archivists and historians amateurs, are pleased to once again bring life to this occupationnel idyll : Bercy, Storeroom of the World (‘’Le Cellier du Monde’’) and MADININA, Pearl of the Caribbean. They also succeeded in obtaining a rare gift : the official recognition of the vintage 'with the right to mention 1895 on the label. (The autorisation was granted on proof by the Direction of the Control Squad of Wines and Spirits with Appellations d’Origine) |
The 1895
MADININA, from the Plantations of Saint-Pierre Martinique, A BOTTLE DESERVING THE HIGHEST DEVOTION : Its aroma - remembering charms and spells from the West Indies - is full of glistening expressions. It reveals itself subtle and bewitching as soon as you open the bottle. It coils up in the bottom of the glass and it escapes tenderly warmed for long quite moments... Some times of happiness one dreams to share with dear friends. Here you do not advice people to 'consume with moderation'. Connoisseurs find by themselves the appropriate gesture and when needed, the proper words that express what is essential *** The 1895
MADININA,
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The bottle
(2) , potbellied, a glass that is inlaid with dust. It stood like that with
its engraved capsule sometimes half eaten away by time.The cork, we did
not change it as it is really fragile and friable as a floated wood from the Cerny
era(3)
One can forgive this minor imperfection as it has stood so long the guardian of your next pleasure ! (François Fanton, dec. 2009) Coments of tasting (2) Content : around 100 cl. |