Gevrey-Chambertin, Premiers Crus

Discovering the Premiers Crus of

Gevrey-Chambertin

The Premiers Crus are a step below the Grands Crus, but still offer an exceptional taste experience. These wines are produced from a specific delimitation of vineyards, recognized for their consistent quality and typicity. The label of a Premier Cru wine must bear the name Gevrey-Chambertin Premier Cru, followed by the name of the specific climat where the grapes were harvested. The Premiers Crus are divided into four styles, from north to south, with the most renowned ones found on the Côte Saint-Jacques. The Clos Saint-Jacques is a notable exception, combining the lighter, poorer soils of the upper slope with the more clay-rich soils of the middle slope, resulting in wines of exceptional quality.

In Gevrey-Chambertin, around 85 hectares have been classified as Premier Cru, with 27 distinct climates. The most famous ones are situated on the "Côte Saint-Jacques", a beautiful slope that stretches from La Bossière to Les Champeaux, adjacent to Brochon. These vineyards are located mid-slope, on the best-exposed areas that retain the finest limestone soils. Another group is situated beneath the Grands Crus, often at mid-slope, on the flat areas that retain favourable limestone soils. Finally, the best parcels on the cone of deposition, at the exit of the combe, have also earned Premier Cru status. These vineyards benefit from the best colluvial deposits eroded from the mountain and are well-drained.

The 27 Premiers crus are listed below, along with their distinctive characteristics.

Les Veroilles or Clos des Varoilles

The soil of the Monopole of the Domaine des Varoilles mainly comprises limestone and clay.

La Bossiere

Located at 350 meters, the soil of the Monopole of Domaine Harmand-Geoffroy is composed of a lot of rock and limestone as it is located at the exit point of two small “combes” Bossiere and Chaudron.

La Romanée

Monopote of Domaine des Varoilles, situated at the existing part of the Combe Chaudron, this premier cru faces south and is mainly composed of rocky soil that helps store heat.

Poissenot (photo above)

This south-facing Premier Cru produced some of the finest wines of the appellation. Composed of Limestone (Entroques) and on the top part Ostrea marl, the wine produced is vinous, structured with some similarities with Clos Saint-Jacques. Our producer Domaine Humbert is producing wine from this parcel, learn more here.

Lavaut Saint-Jacques

Situated at an elevation of 325 meters, it boasts a unique terroir characterized by dense rocky soil and shallow soils at the top, gradually giving way to deeper, more clay soils towards the base. Both Lavaux Saint-Jacques and Lavaut Saint-Jacques are currently accepted designations. Domaine les Astrelles is making a wonderful expression of this vineyard with 50-year-old Pinot Noir, learn more here.

Estournelles Saint-Jacques

Located just above Lavaut Saint-Jacques, at an elevation of 320 to 340 meters, this climate benefits from a similar high-slope terrain to La Romanée and Poissenot, with the added protection of the Chaignot wood. The soil composition is characterized by an abundance of pebbles and limited vegetal soil.

Clos Saint-Jacques

Historically, the Clos Saint-Jacques was ranked alongside esteemed vineyards like Chambertin and Clos de Bèze in the 19th century. Currently, this prestigious site is divided among five domains, each owning an equal portion of the slope that stretches from top to bottom. The elevation of the Clos Saint-Jacques ranges from 280 to 340 meters, with the lower section boasting ideal conditions for viticulture. The soil composition in this area is particularly well-suited for grape growth, consisting of clay and limestone materials that have been deposited by water from the upper reaches of the slope.

Les Cazetiers

This premier cru boasts an ideal east-facing exposure, perfectly suited for Pinot Noir. The climate is sheltered from harsh weather conditions by a canopy of oak trees that tower above. The terrain is steep, with elevations ranging from 300 to 360 meters, and is characterized by a generous scattering of pebbles from top to bottom. While the upper layers of soil are somewhat marly, the overall soil composition remains predominantly white. Despite having only a thin layer of vegetal soil, measuring between 20 to 30 centimeters, the presence of beautiful clays adds depth and complexity to the terroir.

Petits Cazetiers

This vineyard is situated in the lower reaches of the Cazetiers slope, as well as at the foot of the Combe aux Moines, where it benefits from a slightly higher proportion of marly-calcareous deposits.

Combe au Moine

The wine from this Premier Cru is distinguished by its exceptional texture, luxurious viscosity, and lively minerality, which lingers pleasantly on the palate. The vineyard's unique terroir, situated at the northern summit of the Cazetiers, features thin, highly calcareous soils that drain naturally. The steep slope, with an elevation of 340 to 380 meters, and its ideal east-facing orientation, all contribute to the wine's remarkable characteristics.

Les Goulots

The vineyard's steep slope, which rises to an altitude of 340-380 meters, ensures excellent soil drainage, allowing the vines to flourish in a naturally healthy environment. The resulting wine is marked by its refined elegance, with a focus on precision rather than a rustic texture, yet still boasting a robust structure. The climate is characterized by an abundance of pebbles and limited vegetal soil, while the forest's edge features sandy soils, further contributing to the wine's unique personality.

Les Champeaux

The climate is distinguished by its reddish-hued soils, which are a striking feature of this unique terroir. The elevation ranges from 320 to 360 meters, and the soil is characterized by a high concentration of pebbles, with a shallow depth of just 10 to 40 centimeters. This brown-limestone soil is perfectly suited for Pinot Noir. As a result, the wines produced here are renowned for their intense coloration, even surpassing those of Lavaut Saint-Jacques and Clos Saint-Jacques, despite similar soil conditions.

Clos du Chapitre

The terroir's unique combination of limestone gravel and well-drained, east-facing and 270 meters above sea level, brown limestone soils creates a perfect environment for crafting a wine that is both nuanced and complex. The result is a refined, textured wine with a subtle balance of power and finesse, supported by firm yet rounded tannins. This exceptional wine is a standout in Gevrey-Chambertin, boasting a captivating charm that sets it apart from others.

Craipillot

Craipillot's climate mirrors that of Clos du Chapitre, boasting limestone-rich, stony soils. However, its distinct microclimate, shaped by the valley's cool air currents, sets it apart. Unlike Clos du Chapitre, which is sheltered by its walls and houses, Craipillot is more vulnerable to the valley's frosty conditions.

Champonnet

The terroir of Champonnet is characterized by its combination of limestone-rich and clay-heavy soils. The vineyard's south-facing slope, situated at an altitude of 280 meters, benefits from a microclimate that is ideal for grape ripening. The gravelly topsoil and deep, clay-rich subsoil provide excellent drainage and water retention, allowing the vines to thrive. The gentle slope of the vineyard also ensures that the grapes receive optimal sunlight and air circulation, resulting in a complex and balanced flavour profile.

Cherbaude

This climate shares a similar terroir profile with its esteemed neighbours, Clos Prieur-Haut and Chapelle-Chambertin. The limestone bedrock provides excellent drainage and allows the vine roots to penetrate deeply, while the gentle east-facing slope ensures optimal sunlight exposure. The rich, red, calcareous soils are punctuated by thick layers of lava, a unique geological feature that adds complexity to the wine. This exceptional soil composition, combined with the vineyard's elevated position, yields a wine of remarkable character and finesse.

Clos Prieur-Haut or Clos Prieur

Located on the Grand Cru slope boasts a unique terroir profile, characterized by an abundance of marl and fewer scree deposits compared to Côte Saint-Jacques. The clay-limestone soils share similarities with those found in Mazis-Chambertin, featuring denser limestone materials at the upper elevations. However, as you descend the slope, the soil composition shifts to reveal more coarse marl, adding complexity to the wine's flavour profile

Issarts or Plantigone

Located at an altitude of 300 meters, the vineyard benefits from a privileged climate, nestled alongside the renowned Clos des Ruchottes. While its north-facing orientation presents a slight challenge to grape ripening, the resulting wine boasts an exceptional tannin structure, yielding a silky texture and impressive longevity. The wine's lively acidity showcases its pronounced minerality.

Les Corbeaux

Les Corbeaux vineyard boasts brown limestone soils, located at an elevation of 300 meters, perfectly suited to the vine's needs, with excellent water retention and drainage properties. The terrain's gentle slope, punctuated by pebbles, gradually gives way to a flat, rich soil at the bottom, creating a unique terroir that imparts distinct characteristics to the wine

Fonteny or Clos de Fonteny

Les Fontenys is situated on the esteemed Premeaux limestone, a terrain characterized by thick slabs of rock that require careful excavation to plant the vine. This unique terroir features shallow soil depths, often less than 15 centimeters, which is shallower than the heights of Chambertin Grand Cru.

Petite Chapelle

This vineyard features a significant presence of pebbles, but the slope is less pronounced, and the soil's natural drainage is less efficient than in Chapelle-Chambertin. Consequently, Petite Chapelle is classified as a Premier Cru. Known for its finesse, delicacy, silkiness, and length, this wine embodies the essence of Premier Crus from this slope.

En Ergot

This Burgundy terroir shares a strong affinity with Petite-Chapelle with a subtle variation in elevation as the slope rises to an altitude of 300 meters. The presence of a fault line contributes to this distinction. The unique combination of a slightly higher limestone content, steeper slope, and more pronounced air current imbues the fruit with a distinct personality, characterized by flavors reminiscent of black berries rather than red fruits.

Bel Air

This Premier Cru is defined by its topography, featuring a steep slope and shallow soil profile. Notably, the soil's limited marl content and east-facing orientation create a distinct microclimate, marked by a cooler temperature. These factors combine to produce a wine with a singular personality, distinct from Côte Saint-Jacques slope.

Aux Combottes

This exceptional Premier Cru, situated near Latricières-Chambertin, boasts a rich history. Although it's slightly concave, which affects its exposure and drainage, its ancient roots and distinctive features set it apart. This climate combines the vigor of Latricières-Chambertin with the minerality of Clos de la Roche, resulting in wines with a deep, clear color, an expressive nose, and a quintessential Gevrey-Chambertin flavor profile.