La Maréchaude
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A tiny, history-rich premier cru on the Ladoix-Serrigny border, built on land reclaimed from marshes since the 13th century.
La Maréchaude is a 1-hectare Aloxe-Corton Premier Cru in Ladoix-Serrigny, producing Pinot Noir from limestone and clay soils. The name derives from the Old French 'Mareschaut,' meaning marsh, reflecting the historic drainage work that transformed this land into viable vineyard. At just one hectare, it ranks among Burgundy's most intimate premier cru sites.
- Located in Ladoix-Serrigny, classified as Aloxe-Corton Premier Cru
- Total vineyard area of just 1.0 hectare
- South-east facing aspect at 200-300 meters elevation
- Soils are limestone and clay, typical of the Côte de Beaune
- Planted exclusively to Pinot Noir
- Name recorded since the 13th century, derived from Old French for marsh
- Also known by the alternate name Les Maréchaudes
Location and Classification
La Maréchaude sits within the commune of Ladoix-Serrigny at the northern end of the Côte de Beaune, carrying the Aloxe-Corton Premier Cru appellation. This classification is a quirk of Burgundy's geography: several premier cru vineyards physically located in Ladoix-Serrigny fall under the Aloxe-Corton appellation umbrella, giving producers access to one of the Côte de Beaune's most recognized names. The vineyard is also referenced as Les Maréchaudes, and the two names are used interchangeably in the literature.
- Commune: Ladoix-Serrigny, appellation: Aloxe-Corton Premier Cru
- Situated in the northern Côte de Beaune
- Known under both La Maréchaude and Les Maréchaudes
Terroir
The vineyard occupies a south-east facing slope between 200 and 300 meters elevation, benefiting from morning sun exposure that encourages even ripening while preserving freshness. The soils are a combination of limestone and clay, a pairing common across the Côte de Beaune and well-suited to Pinot Noir. The continental climate of Burgundy governs the growing season, bringing warm summers and cold winters, with vintage variation playing a meaningful role in the character of each release. At just one hectare, the vineyard's small scale means production is inherently limited.
- South-east aspect captures morning sunlight
- Limestone and clay soils support structured, fruit-forward Pinot Noir
- Continental climate with significant vintage variation
- Elevation of 200-300 meters aids freshness retention
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Open Wine Lookup →History
The name La Maréchaude traces back to the Old French word 'Mareschaut,' meaning marsh. References to the site appear as early as the 13th century, when the land was in a state that required substantial drainage work before viticulture was viable. That historic transformation of marshy ground into productive vineyard land reflects the broader Burgundian tradition of meticulous land improvement over centuries. Today the name stands as a direct link to the site's pre-viticultural past, embedded in the official appellation record.
Red wines from La Maréchaude are rich and concentrated, with soft tannins characteristic of well-situated Côte de Beaune Pinot Noir. Expect dark cherry and red fruit, earthiness tied to the limestone-clay soils, and a structure that supports short to medium-term cellaring.
- Aloxe-Corton Premier Cru Les Maréchaudes (various domaines)$60-120Tiny one-hectare site with limited production; seek out local Ladoix-Serrigny producers for authentic expression.Find →
- La Maréchaude is classified as Aloxe-Corton Premier Cru despite being physically in Ladoix-Serrigny commune
- Total area is 1.0 hectare, planted exclusively to Pinot Noir
- Name derives from Old French 'Mareschaut' meaning marsh; site documented since the 13th century
- South-east facing slope at 200-300 meters on limestone and clay soils
- Also appears under the alternate name Les Maréchaudes