Beaune Premier Cru Clos du Roi

Clos du Roi carries one of the most literal names in Burgundy: this was a vineyard belonging to a king. When Charles the Bold, Duke of Burgundy, died in 1477, King Louis XI of France claimed the vineyard as part of his annexation of the Burgundian territories. The site had previously been held by the Dukes of Burgundy, making it one of the most historically significant parcels in the entire Côte d'Or. Wine from Clos du Roi was eventually served at Versailles, cementing its prestige in the French royal court. The stone walls that give it the 'Clos' designation are part of the broader Burgundian tradition of enclosing premier parcels to demarcate ownership and protect the vines.

• Claimed by King Louis XI after the death of Charles the Bold in 1477
• Previously held by the Dukes of Burgundy
• Wine served at the Palace of Versailles
• Stone walls historically enclosed the vineyard, earning the 'Clos' designation

Clos du Roi occupies 13 hectares on a southeast-facing slope within the Beaune appellation on the Côte de Beaune. The aspect provides meaningful protection from northerly winds while maximizing morning sun exposure, a key factor in ripening Pinot Noir in this continental climate. Soils are characteristically thin, combining sandy limestone with clay and a notable presence of iron-rich cailloutis, the iron-bearing stones that appear throughout the Côte de Beaune and contribute to the vineyard's mineral character. The combination of good drainage from the stony soils and the warmth retained by those iron-rich stones creates conditions well-suited to producing structured, age-worthy Pinot Noir.

• 13 hectares on a southeast-facing slope
• Continental climate with protection from northerly winds
• Thin sandy limestone and clay soils with iron-rich cailloutis
• Part of the Beaune Premier Cru appellation

Clos du Roi produces exclusively red wine from Pinot Noir, reflecting the full-bodied, structured style typical of the better Premier Crus of Beaune. The iron-rich cailloutis soils leave a distinct mineral signature in the wine, complementing the red fruit and spice notes that characterize the appellation. Tannins are typically silky rather than grippy, giving the wine approachability in youth while still supporting meaningful aging potential. These are not wines built for immediate consumption; the structure and mineral complexity reward patience in the cellar, with the best examples needing several years to fully integrate and reveal their complexity.

Several respected Burgundy producers hold parcels in Clos du Roi, ranging from large négociants to smaller domaines. Bouchard Aîné & Fils, Louis Latour, and Domaine Chanson represent the négociant tradition, while Domaine Rapet, Jean-Jacques Girard, Cornu-Camus, and Decelle-Villa offer domaine-bottled perspectives on the climat. The diversity of producers across the 13 hectares means that stylistic variation exists, with different winemaking philosophies expressed through the same underlying terroir.