Clos Saint-Denis

The Clos Saint-Denis AOC is a Grand Cru appellation in the Côte de Nuits region of Côte-d’Or.

In the Côte de Nuits, Morey-Saint-Denis is one of the villages with the highest concentration of Grand Cru vineyards. The Clos de Tart, which has remained a monopoly, was founded in 1141 by the Cistercian nuns of Tart. Since then, it has belonged to only three successive estates! The Clos Saint-Denis dates back to the 11th century. It was founded by the canons of Vergy. The Clos de la Roche and the Clos des Lambrays, which are virtually monopolies, originated from historical foundations and the consolidation of several climats. Grand Cru appellations recognized on December 8, 1936, January 4, 1939 (Clos de Tart), and April 27, 1981 (Clos des Lambrays).At an altitude of about 250 meters and facing east, sometimes slightly east-southeast, these Grand Crus extend the family of Gevrey-Chambertin Grand Crus southward: the Clos de la Roche, then the Clos Saint-Denis, the Clos des Lambrays, and the Clos de Tart, before the Bonnes Mares.

Clos de la Roche is highly limestone-rich: barely 30 centimeters of soil, few small stones, and large boulders that gave it its name. Clos de Tart: scree largely covers the limestone subsoil (40 to 120 centimeters of soil). Le Clos des Lambrays is marly in its upper section, clay-limestone in the lower part. Le Clos Saint-Denis: at the bottom of the hillside, brown limestone soils devoid of gravel, with phosphorus present as in Chambertin and clay as in Musigny.

Clos Saint-Denis surprises less for its breadth than for its nuances: the Mozart of the Côte de Nuits. Clos de la Roche is more assertive, very close to Chambertin, serious and deep. Huminous notes and truffle often precede the small red or black fruit. A small portion of Bonnes Mares is produced in the commune, with the majority located in Chambolle-Musigny.