La Croix Rameau
lah KWAH rah-MOH
Vosne-Romanée's smallest Premier Cru, perched at the edge of Romanée-Saint-Vivant and forever campaigning for Grand Cru elevation.
La Croix Rameau is Vosne-Romanée's smallest Premier Cru, covering just 0.6 hectares on the northeastern border of Romanée-Saint-Vivant. Named for a cross erected by monks of the Abbey of Saint-Vivant, it has been petitioned for Grand Cru status multiple times since the 1930 classification. Only a handful of producers hold parcels here.
- Smallest Premier Cru vineyard in Vosne-Romanée at just 0.6 hectares (1.4 acres)
- Located at the northeastern corner of Romanée-Saint-Vivant Grand Cru
- Named for a cross erected by monks of the Abbey of Saint-Vivant
- Classified Premier Cru; narrowly excluded from Grand Cru status in 1930
- An appeal for Grand Cru reclassification in the 1980s was overturned by a narrow margin
- Southeast-facing slope at 250 to 300 meters elevation
- Only three known producers hold parcels: Domaine François Lamarche, Coudray-Bizot, and Jacques Cacheux & Fils
Location and Setting
La Croix Rameau occupies a sliver of the Côte de Nuits in Vosne-Romanée, sharing its northeastern boundary with the Grand Cru Romanée-Saint-Vivant. At just 0.6 hectares, it is the most compact Premier Cru appellation in the entire commune. The vineyard sits on a southeast-facing slope at elevations between 250 and 300 meters, positioning it well to capture morning sun while benefiting from the cooling continental climate of the region.
- Total area: 0.6 hectares (1.4 acres)
- Elevation: 250 to 300 meters
- Aspect: Southeast-facing
- Borders Romanée-Saint-Vivant directly to the southwest
Soils and Geology
The soils at La Croix Rameau reflect the classic Côte de Nuits profile with site-specific nuance. A limestone-clay base sits atop a Bajocian limestone bedrock, with a clayey-sand component adding textural complexity. The soils are notably dry, which concentrates flavors and stresses the vine in ways that promote quality over quantity. This geological continuity with neighboring Romanée-Saint-Vivant has fueled longstanding debates about whether the boundary between the two was drawn in the right place.
- Limestone-clay topsoil with clayey-sand component
- Bajocian limestone bedrock
- Dry soil conditions promote vine stress and concentration
- Geological character closely mirrors adjacent Romanée-Saint-Vivant
History and Classification
The name La Croix Rameau traces back to the monks of the Abbey of Saint-Vivant, who erected a cross (croix) in the vineyard. The site may historically have been considered part of Romanée-Saint-Vivant before formal appellation boundaries were drawn. When the INAO established Burgundy's hierarchy in 1930, La Croix Rameau narrowly missed Grand Cru classification, landing instead as a Premier Cru. Producers and advocates have mounted repeated petitions for elevation since then, and a formal appeal in the 1980s came close to succeeding before being overturned by a slim margin. The vineyard remains one of Burgundy's most persistent Grand Cru candidates.
- Named for a monastic cross planted by the Abbey of Saint-Vivant
- Narrowly excluded from Grand Cru status in the 1930 classification
- 1980s reclassification appeal overturned by a narrow margin
- Historically may have been considered part of Romanée-Saint-Vivant
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Open Wine Lookup →Wine Style and Producers
Pinot Noir from La Croix Rameau produces wines that reflect the lighter, more refined side of Vosne-Romanée, with red fruit, mineral tension, and savory complexity. The tiny total area means that only three producers are known to hold parcels, making these wines genuinely rare. Domaine François Lamarche holds the largest share at 0.21 hectares, followed by Coudray-Bizot at 0.20 hectares, and Jacques Cacheux & Fils at 0.16 hectares. Scarcity combined with the vineyard's prestigious address ensures these wines trade at prices well above the typical Premier Cru range.
- Domaine François Lamarche: 0.21 ha (largest holder)
- Coudray-Bizot: 0.20 ha
- Jacques Cacheux & Fils: 0.16 ha
- All production is 100% Pinot Noir under Vosne-Romanée Premier Cru AOC
Light to medium-bodied Pinot Noir with lifted red fruit (cherry, raspberry, redcurrant), a distinct mineral and earthy undercurrent, fine-grained tannins, and a savory, lingering finish. Elegance and finesse define the style rather than weight or opulence.
- Domaine François Lamarche Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru La Croix Rameau$150-220Largest single holder at 0.21 ha; benchmark expression of this rare, historically significant vineyard.Find →
- Coudray-Bizot Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru La Croix Rameau$160-240Second-largest parcel at 0.20 ha; sought-after for its refined mineral-driven Pinot Noir character.Find →
- Jacques Cacheux & Fils Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru La Croix Rameau$130-190Smallest of the three parcels at 0.16 ha, producing rare, elegant wines from this contested Premier Cru.Find →
- La Croix Rameau is the smallest Premier Cru in Vosne-Romanée at 0.6 hectares total
- Located at the northeastern corner of Romanée-Saint-Vivant Grand Cru; the two sites share similar Bajocian limestone geology
- Named for a cross placed by monks of the Abbey of Saint-Vivant, which historically administered much of this land
- Narrowly excluded from Grand Cru status in 1930; a 1980s appeal for reclassification failed by a slim margin
- Only three known producers: Lamarche (0.21 ha), Coudray-Bizot (0.20 ha), Cacheux & Fils (0.16 ha)