La Micaude

La Micaude sits within the commune of Ladoix-Serrigny at the northern tip of the Côte de Beaune, one of the most overlooked appellations in the Côte d'Or. The climat occupies a compact 1.63 hectares on slopes ranging from 230 to 325 meters, with aspects oriented east to south-east and south. This positioning provides good sun exposure while the elevation introduces a degree of freshness that shapes the wine's character. The appellation is Ladoix Premier Cru, and La Micaude qualifies as one of a small number of classified sites within this often undervalued commune.

• Commune: Ladoix-Serrigny, Côte de Beaune
• Appellation: Ladoix Premier Cru
• Elevation range: 230 to 325 meters
• Aspect: East to south-east and south

The soils at La Micaude are reddish-brown calcareous clay-limestone, enriched with abundant silex (flint) limestone debris and marl limestone layers. This combination is characteristic of mid-slope Burgundy sites, where the mix of clay for water retention and limestone for drainage and minerality creates a balanced growing environment for Pinot Noir. The climate mirrors that of neighboring Aloxe-Corton: continental in character but tempered by the moderating influence of the Côte's topography, delivering warm summers and cold winters with sufficient warmth during the growing season to ripen Pinot Noir fully.

• Reddish-brown calcareous clay-limestone base soils
• Abundant silex (flint) limestone debris throughout the profile
• Marl limestone present in the soil composition
• Continental climate with temperate characteristics similar to Aloxe-Corton

The name La Micaude comes from the Burgundian dialect word for 'mid-slope,' a descriptor that reflects the climat's position on the hillside. The vineyard's modern story is one of division and reunion. In 1870, the holding was split among heirs, fragmenting what had been a unified parcel. Over the following decades, the pieces remained in separate hands until Roger Capitain began systematically acquiring the parcels in 1963. By 1995, the work was complete, and La Micaude became a monopole once again under the Capitain-Gagnerot name. The domaine itself traces its roots to 1802, with some sources citing 1864 as the date of the Capitain-Gagnerot partnership specifically.

• Name means 'mid-slope' in Burgundian dialect
• Divided among heirs in 1870, breaking monopole status
• Roger Capitain began repurchasing parcels in 1963
• Monopole status fully restored in 1995

La Micaude produces red wine exclusively from Pinot Noir. The style sits firmly in the finesse camp of Burgundy, characterized by red berry fruits including raspberry and cherry, a delicate structure, and silky tannins. The presence of silex in the soils contributes a mineral quality that adds definition to the fruit profile. These are not power-driven wines in the manner of Pommard or the richer Corton Premier Crus; instead, they reward patience and attention. The relatively modest profile of the Ladoix appellation means La Micaude often delivers quality that exceeds its price point relative to better-known Côte de Beaune Premier Crus.

• Red berry fruit character: raspberry and cherry dominant
• Silky tannins with a delicate overall structure
• Silex soils contribute a mineral thread to the wine
• Finesse-focused style rather than weight-driven

Domaine Capitain-Gagnerot is the sole producer of La Micaude, holding the climat as a monopole. The domaine is one of the significant family estates of Ladoix-Serrigny, with a history stretching back to at least 1802. As the monopole holder, Capitain-Gagnerot controls all production decisions for La Micaude, from viticulture through vinification, which gives the wine a consistency of identity rare outside the grands crus of the Côte d'Or. The domaine's focus on Ladoix and its surrounding appellations makes it the key reference point for understanding the northern Côte de Beaune.

• Sole producer as monopole holder since 1995
• Domaine history dates to at least 1802
• Based in Ladoix-Serrigny
• Key producer for understanding northern Côte de Beaune Pinot Noir