Clos des Argillières

Clos des Argillières sits within the commune of Prémeaux-Prissey, which lies to the south of the town of Nuits-Saint-Georges and forms the southern half of the appellation. The vineyard occupies a steep slope, a defining feature that concentrates sun exposure and encourages natural drainage. It directly adjoins Clos des Corvées, another well-regarded premier cru on the same hillside. The 'Clos' designation signals that this site has historically been enclosed by stone walls, a Burgundian tradition that once served both practical and prestige-related purposes.

• Commune: Prémeaux-Prissey, southern sector of the Nuits-Saint-Georges appellation
• Steep slope aspect promotes drainage and concentrated fruit development
• Shares a boundary with Clos des Corvées premier cru
• Walled enclosure reflects traditional Burgundian clos designation

The vineyard's name tells its own geological story. 'Argillières' derives from the Latin 'argilla,' meaning clay, and the soils here are indeed heavily argillaceous. Brown clay soils dominate, interspersed with pink Prémeaux limestone, a rock type specific to this southern stretch of the Côte de Nuits. White ooliths, small spherical grains of calcium carbonate, are also present and contribute to the vineyard's mineral character. This combination of clay and limestone is classic Burgundy geology, delivering wines with both textural richness from the clay and structural precision from the limestone.

• Clay-dominant (argillaceous) soils give the wine its characteristic body and richness
• Pink Prémeaux limestone is a distinctive local geological feature
• White ooliths add a mineral dimension to both soil and finished wine
• Brown soil coloration is typical of iron-rich clay in the Côte de Nuits

Clos des Argillières produces exclusively red wine from Pinot Noir, consistent with premier cru norms across the Côte de Nuits. The clay-heavy soils yield wines that lean toward concentration, richness, and warmth rather than the more finesse-driven style of some northern Nuits-Saint-Georges premiers crus. Earthy and mineral notes are prominent, reflecting the limestone and clay composition of the terroir. These are wines built for the medium to long term, with the structural density to reward cellaring.

• Exclusively Pinot Noir; no white wine is produced here
• Clay soils contribute body, richness, and a warm, generous texture
• Mineral character reflects the limestone and oolith content of the subsoil
• Earthy notes are a consistent stylistic signature across producers

Around ten producers farm and vinify wine from Clos des Argillières. The roster includes Domaine Prieuré Roch, a biodynamically farmed estate with a devoted following among natural wine enthusiasts, as well as major négociant houses Bouchard Père & Fils, Maison Louis Latour, and Jean-Claude Boisset. Domaine Patrice Rion and R. Dubois & Fils represent the smaller, family-scale domaine end of the spectrum. This mix of large négociants and smaller estates means the site is interpreted across a range of winemaking philosophies and extraction styles.

• Domaine Prieuré Roch: biodynamic farming, sought-after by natural wine collectors
• Bouchard Père & Fils and Louis Latour: major Burgundy négociants with broad distribution
• Domaine Patrice Rion and R. Dubois & Fils: family domaines offering more artisan-scale production
• Jean-Claude Boisset: large négociant house with significant Côte de Nuits holdings