Le Clou d'Orge

Le Clou d'Orge sits on the midslopes of Ladoix-Serrigny, positioned between the village of Buisson and a limestone quarry above. The climat occupies elevations of 230 to 325 metres, placing it in the middle band of the hillside where aspect and altitude combine to moderate the growing conditions. The south to south-southeast facing slopes receive generous sunlight throughout the growing season, a key advantage in this northerly part of the Côte de Beaune.

• Midslope position between Buisson village and limestone quarry
• Elevation: 230 to 325 metres
• South to south-southeast aspect
• One of eleven Premier Cru climats within the Ladoix appellation

The soils at Le Clou d'Orge are chalky clay over limestone, a combination that provides both structure and drainage. The clay component retains sufficient moisture during dry periods, while the free-draining profile prevents waterlogging and encourages vines to root deeply into the limestone subsoil. The climate is broadly continental, but the proximity of the Corton hill introduces a temperate influence that moderates extremes. Cooler evenings across the site help preserve natural acidity in the fruit, a significant factor in producing wines with balance and ageing potential.

• Chalky clay with limestone subsoil
• Free-draining profile with beneficial clay moisture retention
• Continental climate tempered by the Corton hill
• Cooler evenings preserve fruit acidity

Both Pinot Noir and Chardonnay are cultivated within Le Clou d'Orge. The red wines show ripe cherry and spice character with a rustic, structured quality typical of Ladoix Premier Crus. This structure reflects the chalky clay soils and the site's position at the northern end of the Côte de Beaune, where wines tend toward firmness rather than immediate softness. The white wines produced here are elegant in style, with citrus fruit and a distinct minerality that speaks to the limestone-influenced terroir.

• Pinot Noir: ripe cherry, spice, structured and rustic in character
• Chardonnay: elegant, citrus-driven with limestone minerality
• Structured reds benefit from short-to-medium term cellaring
• Whites show the precision associated with Côte de Beaune Chardonnay

The name Le Clou d'Orge translates loosely as 'the nail of barley' or references an old unit of measure for barley. Before the slopes were given over entirely to viticulture, barley was among the crops grown here, and the name preserves that agricultural memory. The climat received its Premier Cru classification in 1982, as part of the broader formal recognition of Ladoix's finest vineyard sites. It sits within the Ladoix appellation, which, despite sharing the Corton hill with Aloxe-Corton and Pernand-Vergelesses, has historically received less attention than its neighbours.

• Name references an old barley measure used on these slopes
• Premier Cru status granted in 1982
• Ladoix-Serrigny is among the lesser-known Côte de Beaune appellations
• Shares the broader Corton hill environment with Aloxe-Corton and Pernand-Vergelesses

A small number of quality-focused estates work with Le Clou d'Orge fruit. Domaine Chevalier Père et Fils and Domaine Claude Chevalier are among the local producers with holdings in the climat, bringing a family-scale attention to the vines. Louis Jadot, one of Burgundy's most prominent négociants, also produces wine from this site, offering broader distribution and access for those looking to explore the appellation.

• Domaine Chevalier Père et Fils: local family domaine
• Domaine Claude Chevalier: local estate with Ladoix focus
• Louis Jadot: major négociant with distribution across key markets