Clos de la Commaraine

Clos de la Commaraine sits within the Pommard Premier Cru appellation on the Côte de Beaune. The vineyard occupies 3.75 hectares with an east-facing, south-southeast aspect that captures morning sun and provides good drainage. Soils are deep clay and limestone, stained red by iron oxides, with stony deposits from an ancient riverbed running through the subsoil. Springs in the subsoil bring a natural freshness that balances the richness typical of Pommard. This combination of iron-rich clay and limestone is classic Pommard terroir, producing wines of structure, depth, and longevity.

• East-facing, south-southeast exposure for consistent sun and drainage
• Red-tinted clay and limestone soils with high iron oxide content
• Ancient riverbed deposits in the subsoil add complexity
• Subsoil springs provide freshness and temperance to the site's natural richness

Few Burgundy vineyards carry a documented history as long as Clos de la Commaraine. The château on the property was built in 1112 by Hugues II of Burgundy, placing the estate among the oldest in the region. Its historical prestige is well documented: in 1759, Commaraine wines were priced on par with those of Romanée, one of the most celebrated names in Burgundy. Thomas Jefferson visited Burgundy in 1787 and purchased Commaraine wines, a significant marker of the vineyard's international reputation at the time. In 1892, wine scholars Danguy and Aubertin ranked Clos de la Commaraine first among the most well-known Burgundy climates.

• Château dates to 1112, built by Hugues II of Burgundy
• Priced equal to Romanée in 1759
• Thomas Jefferson purchased wines here in 1787
• Ranked first among notable Burgundy climates by Danguy and Aubertin in 1892

The 20th century brought challenges to the estate. The last vintage produced under the Commaraine label prior to its hiatus dates to 2002, after which grapes were sold to Louis Jadot rather than being vinified under the estate name. That arrangement continued until approximately 2017 to 2018, when American owners Denise Dupré and Mark Nunelly acquired the property and relaunched production. The new owners converted the vineyard to organic farming in 2017 and are working toward full biodynamic certification, with a target date of 2025. This revival represents one of the more notable ownership transitions in recent Burgundy history.

• Production under the Commaraine label ceased after 2002
• Grapes sold to Louis Jadot from approximately 2002 to 2017
• American owners Denise Dupré and Mark Nunelly relaunched estate production around 2017
• Organic since 2017, biodynamic certification targeted for 2025

Clos de la Commaraine produces Pinot Noir that reflects classic Pommard character at Premier Cru level. The wines are rich, powerful, and concentrated, with a mineral and tannic core that demands time in bottle. Aromatically, they show spiced raspberry fruit with complexity added by the iron-rich soils. Despite the structural weight, the wines maintain elegance and refined balance, a quality noted throughout the vineyard's long history. The monopole status means all fruit comes from a single, tightly defined terroir, giving the wine a consistent identity across vintages.