Clos des Réas

Clos des Réas holds a distinction that no other vineyard in the Vosne-Romanée appellation can claim: it is the sole premier cru monopole in the village. The Gros family has held uninterrupted ownership since 1860, making this one of the longest-running single-family monopoles in Burgundy. Today, Domaine Michel Gros manages the vineyard and produces the wine exclusively under the Vosne-Romanée Premier Cru Monopole label. The clos itself, a walled enclosure in the traditional Burgundian sense, takes a distinctive triangular shape that sets it apart visually within the landscape of the appellation.

• Gros family ownership documented from 1860 to present
• The only premier cru monopole in the entire Vosne-Romanée appellation
• Enclosed by walls forming a distinctive triangular plot
• Produced exclusively by Domaine Michel Gros

Clos des Réas sits at the southern end of the Vosne-Romanée appellation, where the village boundary meets Nuits-Saint-Georges. The vineyard occupies the lower portion of the Côte d'Or slope with a southeast-facing aspect and a gentle gradient. This positioning results in moderate sun exposure within Burgundy's continental climate. The soils are particularly complex: a layer of Oligocene pinkish marl containing limestone blocks sits above a base of Bajocian limestone rich in fossilized shellfish, specifically ostrea acuminata. This combination of calcareous subsoil and marlstone gives the wines their characteristic mineral backbone and aromatic depth.

• Southeast-facing slope at the lower end of the Côte d'Or
• Located at the southern boundary of Vosne-Romanée near Nuits-Saint-Georges
• Upper soils: Oligocene pinkish marl with limestone blocks
• Subsoil: Bajocian limestone with fossilized ostrea acuminata shellfish

Clos des Réas produces a red Pinot Noir noted for soft, elegant tannins and relatively early drinkability compared to many of its Vosne-Romanée peers. The aromatic profile leads with black cherry, blackberry, and violet, followed by iron, spice, and a savory dimension of forest floor and Christmas spice on the palate. The combination of marlstone soils and the lower slope's moderate temperatures shapes a wine that balances fruit generosity with structural refinement. While approachable younger than many Côte de Nuits premiers crus, the complexity of the terroir rewards patience for those who choose to cellar.

• Soft, elegant tannins with notable early drinkability
• Aromatics: black cherry, blackberry, violet, iron, spice
• Palate: forest floor, Christmas spice, savory complexity
• Balances fruit accessibility with genuine terroir expression

For WSET Diploma and other advanced study candidates, Clos des Réas is a valuable example when discussing Burgundy classification nuances, specifically the concept of monopoles at the premier cru level. Vosne-Romanée is a village better known for its grand crus, and understanding that Clos des Réas is the appellation's only premier cru monopole is a precise, testable fact. The Gros family's long ownership history and the vineyard's walled triangular enclosure also illustrate how geography, history, and classification intersect in Burgundy.