Clos Pitois

Clos Pitois carries one of the longer recorded histories among Burgundy's Premier Crus. Cistercian monks first planted the vineyard in 1421, establishing the walled clos that still defines the site today. The Cistercians were instrumental in mapping and cultivating Burgundy's finest terroirs during the medieval period, and their work at Clos Pitois reflects the same meticulous approach they applied at sites like Clos de Vougeot. The vineyard has passed through several ownerships over the centuries, with the vines replanted five times since the original planting. The Belland family eventually acquired the site and have maintained it as a monopole, meaning they are the sole owner and producer of wine bearing the Clos Pitois name.

• First planted 1421 by Cistercian monks
• Walled clos design retained from original monastic layout
• Vines replanted five times over six centuries
• Monopole held by the Belland family since acquisition

Clos Pitois sits in the Morgeot sector of Chassagne-Montrachet, a large and well-regarded Premier Cru zone in the southern Côte de Beaune. The site borders Santenay to the south, placing it at the tail end of the Côte de Beaune where the hillside begins to flatten. The south-western aspect captures afternoon sun, aiding ripening in what is a fundamentally continental climate with warm, dry summers and cool winters. Elevations range from 220 to 325 metres across the 3-hectare parcel, giving some variation in heat retention and drainage. Soils are clay-limestone throughout, with notable marl and clay-rich pockets that contribute to the textured, rounded character of the whites and support the structure found in the reds.

• Morgeot sector, southern Chassagne-Montrachet near the Santenay boundary
• South-western aspect, 220 to 325 metres elevation
• Clay-limestone soils with marl and clay-rich zones
• Continental climate; warm dry summers drive consistent ripening

Clos Pitois produces both red and white wines from Pinot Noir and Chardonnay respectively. The whites are described as round and textured, with citrus and mineral notes that reflect the clay-limestone soils and south-western exposure. Chassagne-Montrachet whites tend toward broader, richer expression compared to the more tightly wound wines of Puligny-Montrachet, and Clos Pitois sits comfortably in that style. The reds display elegance and juiciness, qualities typical of Chassagne-Montrachet Pinot Noir from the Morgeot sector. As a monopole, all wines from Clos Pitois are produced and bottled by Domaine Roger Belland, making the domaine the definitive reference for understanding this site.

• White: round and textured with citrus and mineral character
• Red: elegant and juicy, typical of Morgeot sector Pinot Noir
• Sole producer is Domaine Roger Belland
• Both colours carry Chassagne-Montrachet Premier Cru designation

Domaine Roger Belland is the monopole owner of Clos Pitois and the only producer of wines under this label. Based in Santenay, the domaine has holdings across the southern Côte de Beaune and is well regarded for its work in both Chassagne-Montrachet and Santenay. Their stewardship of Clos Pitois preserves the walled clos character of the vineyard while producing wines that express the Morgeot terroir with clarity. The proximity of their base in Santenay to the Clos Pitois site underscores the geographic continuity between these two appellations along the southern edge of the Côte de Beaune.