Le Clos Gauthey

Le Clos Gauthey carries a layered history that distinguishes it from most Monthélie Premier Crus. The vineyard was created in the mid-1930s through the merger of two separate lieux-dits, Clos Gauthey and Meix Molnot, into a single registered Premier Cru climat. This consolidation gave it the identity it holds today. For roughly seven decades, it stood as the only walled Premier Cru vineyard in Monthélie, a rare distinction in a region where clos status carries considerable prestige. That exclusivity ended in 2006 when Clos des Toisières received its own Premier Cru promotion.

• Formed in the mid-1930s from two merged lieux-dits: Clos Gauthey and Meix Molnot
• Sole walled Premier Cru in Monthélie for approximately 70 years
• Clos des Toisières joined it in Premier Cru status in 2006

At just 1.80 hectares, Le Clos Gauthey is a small but well-situated vineyard in the Monthélie Premier Cru zone. Its southwest and west-facing aspects provide afternoon sun exposure, which aids ripening in this continental climate marked by cool nights, warm days, and the perennial threat of spring frosts. The soils are clay and limestone, typical of the Côte de Beaune's calcareous geology. This combination of aspect and soil structure gives the vineyard the capacity to produce wines with genuine Premier Cru depth and character.

• 1.80 hectares total area
• Southwest and west-facing aspects maximize afternoon sun
• Clay and limestone calcareous soils
• Continental climate with spring frost risk

Both Pinot Noir and Chardonnay are grown within Le Clos Gauthey, though red wine is the dominant style consistent with Monthélie's character as a predominantly red wine appellation. The Pinot Noir wines from this site tend to be soft and fruity with floral notes and ripe red berry fruit, reflecting the southwest exposure and calcareous soils. Chardonnay from the site is less common but follows the broader Côte de Beaune white wine profile. The wines offer approachable structure alongside genuine Premier Cru complexity.

• Pinot Noir is the primary grape; Chardonnay is also permitted
• Red wines show floral notes and ripe red berry character
• Soft, fruit-forward profile with Premier Cru complexity
• Style consistent with Monthélie's broader red wine identity

A small number of producers work within Le Clos Gauthey's 1.80 hectares. Domaine Chanson and Domaine Paul Garaudet are among the established names with holdings in the vineyard, while Philippe Pacalet, known for his natural wine approach and négociant work across Burgundy, also produces a bottling from this climat. Given the vineyard's modest size, production across all producers is limited, making these wines relatively rare on the market.