Le Clos des Mouches

Le Clos des Mouches occupies a southeast-facing slope on the Montagne-Saint-Désire hill at the southern end of Beaune's premier cru belt. Elevation runs from 230 meters at the base to 300 meters near the top, and the aspect captures morning sun while avoiding the harsh heat of late afternoon. This orientation allows for slow, steady ripening, a key factor in the vineyard's reputation for finesse and complexity.

• Southeast aspect on the Montagne-Saint-Désire hill
• Elevation: 230 to 300 meters
• Temperate continental climate with sun exposure concentrated in morning hours
• Located within the Beaune Premier Cru appellation, Côte de Beaune

The soils at Le Clos des Mouches shift noticeably from top to bottom of the slope. The upper portion is rocky with thin, stony soils over limestone bedrock, delivering tension and mineral definition to the wines made from those parcels. The central section transitions to limestone and marl, while the lower reaches carry more clay, producing rounder, more generous fruit character. This internal variation is one reason the vineyard rewards the kind of parcel-level stewardship that Drouhin has practiced for over a century.

• Upper slope: thin, stony soils over limestone
• Mid-slope: limestone and marl
• Lower slope: more clay-dominant, yielding fuller-bodied wines
• Soil diversity contributes to complexity when blended across parcels

Maurice Drouhin began acquiring parcels within Le Clos des Mouches in 1921, ultimately assembling 41 parcels from eight proprietors over a decade ending in 1928. That same year, the estate produced its first white wine from the site, an unusual decision at a time when Beaune was overwhelmingly associated with red wine. The vineyard's name derives from the honeybees (mouches à miel in French) that once inhabited the historic enclosure. Drouhin converted its biodynamic program across its Beaune holdings during the 1990s, and Le Clos des Mouches has been farmed under those principles since. The estate remains the dominant landowner, holding approximately 55% of the total climat.

• Maurice Drouhin acquired 41 parcels from 8 proprietors between 1921 and 1928
• First white vintage produced in 1928, pioneering white wine in Beaune
• Name references honeybees (mouches à miel) historically present in the enclosure
• Biodynamic viticulture adopted by Drouhin in the 1990s

Le Clos des Mouches is one of the rare premier cru vineyards in Burgundy to produce both red and white wines of serious quality. The Chardonnay and Pinot Noir vines are planted in a checkerboard pattern across the slope. White wines show a characteristic mineral edge alongside richness and texture, reflecting the limestone-dominant soils of the mid-slope. Red wines offer spicy, earthy character with the structure typical of well-sited Beaune premier crus. Drouhin's Clos des Mouches Blanc is the benchmark bottling and is considered one of the finest white Beaune premier crus produced.

• Both Chardonnay and Pinot Noir planted in checkerboard pattern
• White wines: rich texture with a mineral edge from limestone soils
• Red wines: spicy, earthy, with firm structure
• Drouhin's white bottling is the reference point for the appellation

Maison Joseph Drouhin is the dominant force in Le Clos des Mouches, owning 14 of the climat's 25.2 hectares and producing both a red and a white under the Clos des Mouches label. Albert Bichot and Domaine Berthelemot are among the other producers with holdings in the vineyard, offering additional perspectives on the terroir, particularly through smaller-scale domaine-style production.

• Maison Joseph Drouhin: 14 hectares, produces both red and white
• Albert Bichot: notable negociant with holdings in the climat
• Domaine Berthelemot: smaller domaine-style producer