Clos de Vougeot AOC

The only Grand Cru site or appellation in the commune of Vougeot in the Burgundy Côte d'Or area. The famous vineyard was planted by Cistercian monks in the 14th century. In 1330, it was enclosed with a high wall, kilometres long today. The monks used it as an "experimental vineyard", and the soil types, which changed at short intervals, were very conducive to this. They are said to have even "tasted the soil" to determine the texture or terroir. They used professional methods to test which grape varieties were best suited for cultivation on which soils, as well as the best pruning and fertilisation. In the upper area, the permeable, lean soils are rich in limestone and gravel. Here is the Château du Clos de Vougeot, where the annual meeting of the wine fraternity Confrérie des Chevaliers du Tastevin takes place as part of "Les Trois Glorieuses" (Three Glorious Days). In the lower area along the road, the less appreciated alluvial soils of clay and loam predominate.

Clos de Vougeot is the largest Grand Cru site on the Côte d'Or, with over 50 hectares. The vineyards are shared by 85 winegrowers, often with small shares. The extremely long-lived red wine is mainly made from Pinot Noir, with some Pinot Liébault and Pinot Beurot (Pinot Gris); theoretically, up to 15% Chardonnay and Pinot Blanc may also be used. Due to the many producers with different winemaking methods, the quality of the red wines varies, but many of them are characterised by a richness of extract that only fully develops after ten years at the earliest. In addition to Clos du Vougeot, Clos-Vougeot or Clos Vougeot also appears on the bottle labels. Well-known producers are Arnoux, Bichot (Domaine du Clos Frantin), Boisset (Domaine de la Vougerae), Confuron-Contetidot, Joseph Drouhin, Drouhin-Laroze, Engel, Faiveley, Grivot, Michel Gros, Jadot, Lamarche, Domaine Leroy, Méo-Camuzet, Georges Mugneret, Prieuré-Roch and Tardi.

Image: © Bénédecite MANIERE and Jean-Louis BERNUY