Mr & Mrs Smith

What can I say? Excellent, fabulous etc. Peter’s food is cooked to perfection and the meal in the evening – with the other guests – was great. Our room was very spacious, overlooking the pool. The grounds were also very well kept and it was only a short drive into Autun. Just need to work out how soon we can stay again.

Our stay at Moulin Renaudiots was quite honestly a little taste of paradise. From the moment we arrived, we were welcomed warmly by Jan and shown to our room, which was the St Andr room downstairs. This room was extremely spacious, stylish and had direct access to the outside pool and outside furniture area. The setting of the hotel was stunning, with a beautifully tended garden by Jan, which housed fragrant herbs, flowers and vegetables, some of which were used by Jan and Peter in their cooking. We dined at the Table d'Hote in the evening, which was on offer, and we can honestly say this was one of the best meals we have had the privilege to enjoy. The food was prepared and presented to such a high standard that we were unable to find anything else that even compared to this meal throughout the rest of our two week holiday in France. Everything from the Cremant de Bourgogne aperitif, the salmon terrine, the confit de lapin to the beef fillet and fondant au chocolat, all homemade, was just exquisite. All were complimented by the perfect choice of wine and the whole meal was incredibly good value for the quality we received. We are normally difficult guests to please, but Jan and Peter were able to exceed our expectations on every level. We were unsure as to the Table d'Hote's setting on one large table, but we found that we were able to enjoy the company of likeminded guests who shared an appreciation for style and quality, which we imagine would most often be the case. Breakfast was equally a delight, as were any refreshments that were served during our stay. Jan and Peter were able to help us with any recommendations of the area and asked us if there was anything specific we wanted to do or enjoyed doing, which they then researched for us. We visited Beaune (a 40-minute drive) for the day, which has some spectacular buildings, les Hospices, and an extensive food market before 12pm, with a little brocante area, which is perfect for finding some real gems at low prices, if prepared to haggle. We then visited Chateau Pommard for a wine tour. This was a beautiful setting and they offer tours in English. A very knowledgeable tour guide guided us. We then returned to Autun, a 5 minute drive away, for a walk around the picturesque town, and found a lovely place to eat in the evening, although as expected it did not even compare to the meal we had the previous evening at Moulin Renaudiots. There seemed to be an abundance of things to do in this area and we will definitely be returning. Jan and Peter have something very special here and it is a secret definitely worth keeping.

If you're looking for a vineyard visit (especially if you're not a seasoned wine expert) then I'd strongly recommend Chateau Pommard (www.chateaudepommard.com) in nearby Beaune. You'll pay for the priviledge of a guided tour, but the guide's enthusiasm and the tastings compensate for that.