Les Hautes Mourottes Premier Cru

Les Hautes Mourottes occupies the upper reaches of the Corton hill within the commune of Ladoix-Serrigny, the northernmost village of the Côte de Beaune. At 300 meters elevation with a northeast-facing aspect, the climat sits at the cooler, windier top of the slope, just below a Grand Cru parcel sharing the same name. This proximity to Grand Cru territory is significant; the soils and exposure are closely related, and the distinction in classification reflects the precise gradations that define Burgundian viticulture.

• Commune: Ladoix-Serrigny, northernmost Côte de Beaune village
• Elevation: 300 meters, among the higher Premier Cru sites on the Côte d'Or
• Aspect: Northeast-facing, contributing to cooler growing conditions
• Immediately below the Grand Cru Les Hautes Mourottes on the Corton hill

The soils of Les Hautes Mourottes are 100% limestone in character, composed of pebbly, reddish limestone mixed with marl and flint limestone fragments. This high-limestone environment drains freely and warms slowly, contributing to wines with pronounced mineral tension and firm structure. The climate is continental with significant diurnal temperature variation, which preserves acidity and freshens the fruit profile. The northeast aspect reinforces the cooler tendencies of this site, giving the wines their characteristic backbone.

• Pebbly, reddish limestone with marl and flint limestone fragments
• 100% limestone soil composition throughout the climat
• Continental climate with large diurnal temperature swings
• Northeast aspect limits afternoon sun exposure, preserving acidity

The climat received its Premier Cru classification in 2002, making it one of the more recently codified sites in Burgundy. The name traces back to the word 'Mourotte,' a diminutive of 'Mur,' meaning wall, which refers to the ancient quarry faces that were once part of this landscape. Over centuries, those quarry walls were filled in and transformed into cultivable vineyard land, a reminder of the long human effort behind every Burgundian climat. The upper location on the Corton hill places Les Hautes Mourottes in distinguished company, adjacent to one of Burgundy's most celebrated Grand Cru zones.

• Premier Cru status granted in 2002
• Name means 'little walls,' referencing ancient quarry faces on the site
• Quarry land was progressively filled and converted into vineyard
• Shares its name with a directly adjacent Grand Cru parcel above it

Les Hautes Mourottes produces both red and white wines under Premier Cru classification, an unusual duality that reflects the versatility of the Corton hill's upper slopes. The red wines from Pinot Noir show dark forest berries, licorice, and a stony, tannic power that comes directly from the limestone-rich soils. White wines from Chardonnay express citrus and tropical fruit characters alongside floral notes, with mineral crispness running through the palate. Both styles share a firm structural quality that rewards patience in the cellar.

• Reds: dark forest berries, licorice, stony tannic grip
• Whites: citrus, tropical fruit, floral notes with mineral crispness
• Both styles benefit from cellaring due to firm structural character
• Premier Cru status applies equally to red and white productions

A focused group of producers work within Les Hautes Mourottes, ranging from long-established négociants to family domaines with deep roots in Ladoix-Serrigny. Capitain-Gagnerot and Domaine Gaston and Pierre Ravaut are among the local specialists with strong ties to the Ladoix appellation. Jean-Claude Boisset and Chartron et Trébuchet represent négociant involvement, while Domaine des Riottes offers another artisan perspective. These producers collectively maintain the visibility of a climat that, despite its Premier Cru standing, remains one of Burgundy's less-publicized addresses.

• Capitain-Gagnerot: long-established Ladoix specialist
• Domaine Gaston and Pierre Ravaut: family domaine rooted in the commune
• Jean-Claude Boisset: major négociant with wide Burgundy reach
• Domaine des Riottes: artisan producer working the climat