Clos Saint-Denis

The Clos Saint-Denis appellation d'origine contrôlée is a Grand Cru appellation in Côte de Nuits, Côte-d'Or.

In Côte de Nuits, Morey-Saint-Denis is one of the villages best known for its Grand Cru wines. Clos de Tart, which remains in monopoly, was founded in 1141 by the Cistercian nuns of Tart. Since then, it has belonged to only three successive estates! Clos Saint-Denis appeared in the 11th century. It belonged to the Canons of Vergy. Clos de la Roche and Clos des Lambrays, which enjoy a virtual monopoly, are the result of historical foundations and the regrouping of several climats. Appellations Grand Cru recognized on December 8, 1936, January 4, 1939 (Clos de Tart) and April 27, 1981 (Clos des Lambrays).250 meters above sea level and facing east, sometimes slightly east/southeast, these grands crus extend the family of Gevrey-Chambertin grands crus southwards: Clos de la Roche, then Clos Saint-Denis, Clos des Lambrays and Clos de Tart, before Bonnes Mares.

Clos de la Roche is very chalky, with barely 30 centimetres of soil, little gravel and the large boulders that give it its name. Le Clos de Tart: scree largely covers the limestone bedrock (40 to 120 centimetres of soil). Le Clos des Lambrays is marly at the top and clay-limestone at the bottom. Le Clos Saint-Denis: at the bottom of the hillside, brown limestone soils devoid of pebbles, with the presence of phosphorus as in Chambertin and clay as in Musigny.

Clos Saint-Denis is less surprising in its breadth than in its nuances: the Mozart of the Côte de Nuits. Clos de la Roche is more assertive, very close to Chambertin, deep and serious. Humus and truffle often precede red or black berries. A small proportion of Bonnes Mares is produced in the commune, with the largest share in Chambolle-Musigny.