Au Closeau

Au Closeau sits at the southern end of Gevrey-Chambertin, positioned directly below the lower section of the Mazis-Chambertin Grand Cru. The vineyard functions essentially as an enclave within the larger La Perrière Premier Cru, giving it a tucked-away character that matches its diminutive size. The aspect faces almost due east, capturing morning sun at elevations ranging from 280 to 380 meters above sea level.

• Southern Gevrey-Chambertin, bordering Mazis-Chambertin Grand Cru below
• Enclave within the La Perrière Premier Cru
• East-facing at 280 to 380 meters elevation

The vineyard sits on rocky limestone and brown limestone soils of shallow depth, typical of the Côte de Nuits hillside. This shallow, well-drained profile encourages vine stress and concentrated fruit development. The marginal continental climate of Burgundy governs the site, with cold winters, warm summers, and the ever-present threat of spring frost and harvest-time rain shaping each vintage.

• Rocky and brown limestone soils, shallow profile
• Well-drained hillside positioning
• Marginal continental climate with vintage variation

The name Au Closeau means 'The Little Close,' a direct reference to the wall that once enclosed this tiny parcel. Remnants of that wall remain visible today, a tangible link to the medieval monastic tradition of enclosed vineyard plots known as clos that defined so much of Burgundy's viticultural identity. The vineyard holds the distinction of being the smallest Premier Cru in Gevrey-Chambertin, a commune otherwise packed with some of Burgundy's most celebrated vineyards.

• Name means 'The Little Close,' referencing an enclosing wall
• Wall remnants still visible on site
• Smallest Premier Cru in the Gevrey-Chambertin commune

Au Closeau produces exclusively Pinot Noir, as expected across the Côte de Nuits. The wines sit in a lighter, more aromatic register than the Grand Cru vineyards that flank the commune. Medium to full-bodied with lively acidity and powdery tannins, these are approachable wines that reflect the leaner limestone soils and east-facing exposure. The style rewards those who appreciate finesse over weight.

• Pinot Noir only
• Lighter and more aromatic than Gevrey Grand Crus
• Medium to full body with lively acids and powdery tannins
• More approachable style suited to earlier drinking

Domaine Drouhin-Laroze is the dominant force in Au Closeau, owning 0.44 hectares of the 0.5-hectare total, which represents roughly 80% of the entire vineyard. This concentration of ownership in a single estate makes the domaine's bottling the definitive expression of the vineyard, and the primary lens through which the cru is known to wine professionals and collectors.

• Domaine Drouhin-Laroze owns 0.44 ha (approximately 80% of the vineyard)
• Concentration of ownership makes this bottling the benchmark expression
• Very limited total production given the vineyard's half-hectare size