Château Gris

The château itself dates to the early 19th century, with some sources placing its construction in the 18th century. Its name, meaning 'grey' in French, derives from the grey slate roof that crowns the building, a distinctive feature setting it apart from the terracotta and traditional Burgundian rooftops common across the Côte de Nuits. The vineyard originally carried the name Les Crots, but following a legal dispute, the name Château-Gris was formally confirmed by court ruling in the 1920s. The estate was historically a monopole of Lupé-Cholet before Albert Bichot acquired it in 1978, bringing it into one of Burgundy's most established négociant-éleveur families.

• Built in the early 19th century (some sources cite late 18th century)
• Originally registered as Les Crots before the Château-Gris name was legally confirmed
• Name reflects the grey slate roof, a rarity in the Côte de Nuits
• Acquired by Albert Bichot in 1978, previously held by Lupé-Cholet

Château Gris sits within the Nuits-Saint-Georges appellation on the Côte de Nuits, at elevations ranging from 260 to 330 metres above sea level. The vineyard faces east, capturing morning sun and benefiting from the warming effect that moderates what is otherwise a cool continental climate. Soils are clay-limestone throughout, thin and rocky, underlain by a hard limestone layer that limits vine vigour and concentrates flavour. The steepness of the site requires terraced plantings, a practical solution that also helps manage water drainage across the slope.

• Elevation: 260 to 330 metres, east-facing
• Soils: thin, rocky clay-limestone over a hard limestone bedrock
• Terraced plantings address the steep gradient
• Cool continental climate moderated by the east-facing exposure

The vineyard is planted with both Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, an arrangement that reflects the differing conditions at different elevations. Lower plots, where soils are deeper and temperatures slightly warmer, are dedicated to Pinot Noir for the estate's Premier Cru red wine. The higher terraces, with thinner soils and cooler conditions, are planted with Chardonnay for a white wine marketed as Les Terrasses. White wine from a Nuits-Saint-Georges Premier Cru vineyard is a genuine rarity, making this dual-variety planting a point of distinction for the property.

• Lower plots: Pinot Noir, producing Premier Cru red wine
• Higher plots: Chardonnay, producing white wine sold as Les Terrasses
• White Nuits-Saint-Georges Premier Cru is extremely uncommon
• Sole producer: Albert Bichot, as the vineyard is a monopole

The red wines from Château Gris display the elegance typical of well-sited Nuits-Saint-Georges Premier Crus. Expect a core of red and black fruit, violet and floral notes, and fine tannins that integrate well with age. The thin, rocky clay-limestone soils contribute to the wine's structure and precision rather than outright weight. The white Les Terrasses, from Chardonnay on the higher terraces, benefits from cooler conditions and the mineral character of the limestone-rich soils.