Craipillot
CREH-pee-yoh
A compact 2.7-hectare Premier Cru at the foot of Gevrey-Chambertin's Grand Cru slope, prized for its lighter, early-drinking style.
Craipillot is a 2.7-hectare Premier Cru climat in Gevrey-Chambertin, producing elegant Pinot Noir from stony alluvial soils. Situated on flat land between the village and the Grand Cru hill, it delivers a lighter, more approachable style than many of its neighbors. Drouhin-Laroze and Domaine Humbert Frères are among its notable producers.
- Total area: 2.7 hectares (6.6 acres)
- Classification: Gevrey-Chambertin Premier Cru (1er Cru climat)
- Sole grape variety: Pinot Noir
- Soil: stony alluvial with a high proportion of limestone
- Positioned on flat land between the village and the Grand Cru hill
- Located at the entrance to Combe de Lavaux, below Clos Saint-Jacques
- Borders Champonnet and Clos du Chapitre
Location and Setting
Craipillot sits at the entrance to the Combe de Lavaux, the valley that cuts into the hillside above Gevrey-Chambertin. Unlike the Grand Cru vineyards that occupy the prime mid-slope positions, Craipillot occupies flat land between the village itself and the rising Grand Cru hill. It is bounded by Champonnet to one side and Clos du Chapitre to the other, and lies below the celebrated Clos Saint-Jacques. This lower, flatter position directly shapes the wine's character.
- Flat land position between village and Grand Cru slope
- At the entrance to Combe de Lavaux valley
- Neighboring climats: Champonnet and Clos du Chapitre
- Below Clos Saint-Jacques on the hillside hierarchy
Soils and Climate
The soils of Craipillot are stony alluvial in character, deposited over time by material washed down from the Combe de Lavaux valley. Limestone content is high, which contributes to the freshness and structure typical of Gevrey-Chambertin wines. The flat topography means less natural drainage compared to the mid-slope Premiers and Grands Crus, and the site sits within the cool continental climate of the Côte de Nuits. These combined factors produce wines that are less concentrated and more approachable in youth than the hillside Premiers Crus.
- Stony alluvial soils deposited from Combe de Lavaux
- High limestone proportion
- Cool continental climate of Côte de Nuits
- Flat terrain with reduced drainage compared to slope sites
Wine Style
Craipillot produces red wines exclusively from Pinot Noir. The style is elegant and medium-bodied, with less concentration than Premiers Crus positioned higher on the slope. The alluvial, stony soils and flat aspect result in wines that are lighter in structure and suited to earlier drinking than the more powerful examples from Gevrey-Chambertin's upper-slope Premiers Crus. This makes Craipillot a useful entry point into Premier Cru Gevrey-Chambertin for those seeking approachability over power.
- 100% Pinot Noir
- Elegant, medium-bodied style
- Less concentration than upper-slope Premiers Crus
- Lighter, earlier-drinking character
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Open Wine Lookup →Notable Producers
Despite its modest 2.7 hectares, Craipillot is represented by several respected Burgundy producers. Drouhin-Laroze and Domaine Humbert Frères both hold parcels, as do Domaine Confuron-Cotetidot, Domaine Faiveley, and Domaine Gérard Seguin. The presence of négociant house Faiveley alongside small domaines reflects the typical ownership structure found across the Côte de Nuits, where historic parcellation means even small climats can attract diverse producers.
Medium-bodied Pinot Noir with fresh red fruit, earthy Burgundian character, and fine tannins. Less extracted and more delicate than upper-slope Gevrey-Chambertin Premiers Crus, with good acidity from the limestone-rich soils. Approachable in youth with a lighter, elegant structure.
- Drouhin-Laroze Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru Craipillot$60-85Established Gevrey domaine with direct parcel access, representing the climat's elegant, lighter style.Find →
- Domaine Humbert Frères Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru Craipillot$65-90Family domaine producing precise, terroir-focused Gevrey Premiers Crus from this small climat.Find →
- Domaine Faiveley Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru Craipillot$70-95Major Burgundy négociant with parcel holdings, offering consistent access to this lighter-style Premier Cru.Find →
- Craipillot is classified as a Gevrey-Chambertin Premier Cru (1er Cru climat), covering 2.7 hectares.
- The climat sits on flat alluvial land between the village and the Grand Cru slope, below Clos Saint-Jacques.
- Soils are stony alluvial with high limestone content, deposited from the Combe de Lavaux valley.
- The style is lighter and less concentrated than hillside Premiers Crus, suited to earlier drinking.
- Notable producers include Drouhin-Laroze, Domaine Humbert Frères, Domaine Confuron-Cotetidot, Domaine Faiveley, and Domaine Gérard Seguin.