Clos de Derrière Saint-Jean

Clos de Derrière Saint-Jean sits within the Pommard Premier Cru appellation on the Côte de Beaune in Burgundy. At just 9.61 ares, it holds the distinction of being the smallest classified Premier Cru in Pommard. The vineyard received its Premier Cru classification in 1938; before that date, its fruit was declassified and sold as village-level Pommard. The clos designation signals a historically walled vineyard parcel, a common feature in Burgundy that often indicates long-standing recognition of a site's individual character.

• 9.61 ares total area, the smallest 1er Cru in Pommard
• Premier Cru status granted under the 1938 appellation classification
• Previously sold as village Pommard before official classification
• Located in the Côte de Beaune sub-region of Burgundy

The vineyard faces south-southeast, an orientation that ensures reliable ripening in Burgundy's continental climate with its warm summers and cold winters. Clay-limestone soils characterize the parcel, a combination typical of the Côte de Beaune and well suited to Pinot Noir. The clay fraction retains moisture during dry periods while the limestone provides the structure and mineral character associated with fine Burgundy. This soil profile contributes to the mineral-driven, fine-textured style of wine the site produces.

• South-southeast aspect for optimal sun exposure
• Clay-limestone soils typical of the Côte de Beaune
• Continental climate with warm summers and cold winters
• Soil profile promotes mineral character and textural refinement

Clos de Derrière Saint-Jean is a monopole, meaning a single producer holds the entire vineyard. Domaine Thierry Violot-Guillemard, a respected Pommard estate, controls all 9.61 ares and is the only source for wine from this lieu-dit. Monopoles are prized in Burgundy because they allow a producer to express a single consistent vision of a site across every vintage. With production capped at 400-500 bottles per vintage, Clos de Derrière Saint-Jean ranks among the most scarce Premier Crus in all of Burgundy, making bottles genuinely difficult to obtain.

• Monopole of Domaine Thierry Violot-Guillemard
• Single producer controls the entire 9.61-are parcel
• Only 400-500 bottles produced per vintage
• One of the rarest Premier Crus by production volume in Burgundy

The wines of Clos de Derrière Saint-Jean are described as elegant, fine-textured, and mineral-driven. This profile aligns with the south-southeast exposure and clay-limestone soils, which tend to produce Pinot Noir with precision and lift rather than the broader, more tannic character sometimes found in Pommard's heavier clay parcels. While Pommard as an appellation is often associated with structure and robustness, this tiny clos delivers a more refined expression, showcasing how individual site conditions can deviate meaningfully from appellation generalisations.