Les Clous
lay KLOO
A compact Monthélie Premier Cru delivering soft red fruit and earthy complexity from marl over gravelly limestone soils.
Les Clous is a 0.60-hectare Monthélie Premier Cru on the Côte de Beaune, earning its status in 2006. The south-southeast facing site produces Pinot Noir and Chardonnay from marl over gravelly limestone. Wines show small red fruits and forest notes in youth, evolving toward mushroom and humus with age.
- Total area of just 0.60 hectares, making it one of Monthélie's smallest Premier Cru sites
- Promoted to Premier Cru status in 2006
- South-southeast facing aspect maximizes sun exposure in this cool Burgundian climate
- Soils are marl over gravelly limestone, typical of the Côte de Beaune
- Both Pinot Noir and Chardonnay are permitted varieties
- Also spelled 'Les Cloux' on some producer labels
- Located within the Monthélie Premier Cru appellation, Côte de Beaune
Location and Classification
Les Clous sits within the village appellation of Monthélie on the Côte de Beaune, a commune often overshadowed by its more famous neighbors Volnay and Meursault. The climat covers just 0.60 hectares, placing it among the smaller Premier Cru sites in Burgundy. Its classification was formalized in 2006 when it received Premier Cru status, recognizing the site's distinct terroir qualities. The name also appears as 'Les Cloux' on certain producer labels, though both refer to the same climat.
- Parent appellation: Monthélie Premier Cru, Côte de Beaune
- Premier Cru status granted in 2006
- Total area: 0.60 hectares
- Alternate spelling 'Les Cloux' appears on some labels
Terroir and Vineyard Character
The south-southeast facing aspect of Les Clous provides reliable sun exposure across the growing season, a meaningful advantage in Monthélie's cool Burgundian climate. The soils consist of marl over gravelly limestone, a combination that delivers both water retention from the marl component and drainage through the gravelly limestone subsoil. This balance encourages vines to develop deep root systems and produce grapes with genuine concentration and structural integrity.
- South-southeast facing aspect promotes even ripening
- Marl topsoil provides moisture retention during dry periods
- Gravelly limestone base ensures drainage and mineral character
- Cool Burgundian climate preserves natural acidity in the fruit
Wine Style and Aging
Wines from Les Clous are described as soft and fruity with fresh acidity, characteristics that make them approachable in youth while retaining genuine aging potential. In their early years, the reds show small red fruits such as cherry and redcurrant alongside distinctive forestry notes. With cellaring, these evolve toward the classic Burgundian secondary profile of mushroom and humus, reflecting the influence of the marl and limestone terroir. The fresh acidity provides the structural backbone needed for this evolution.
- Youth: small red fruits with forestry and woodland notes
- Age: mushroom and humus complexity develops with cellaring
- Soft tannin structure with fresh acidity as the backbone
- Both red and white wines are produced from this climat
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Open Wine Lookup →Notable Producers
Given the climat's modest 0.60-hectare footprint, only a small number of producers hold parcels within Les Clous. Domaine Changarnier, Domaine Réyane et Pascal Bouley, and Domaine Pierrick Bouley each craft wines from this site, bringing individual winemaking perspectives to the shared terroir. Domaine Prunier and Pierre Girardin also have a presence here. These producers collectively represent a cross-section of Monthélie's artisan domaine culture, with most operating at a scale that allows for careful, parcel-specific attention.
- Domaine Changarnier
- Domaine Réyane et Pascal Bouley
- Domaine Pierrick Bouley
- Domaine Prunier
- Pierre Girardin
Soft red fruits including cherry and redcurrant, fresh acidity, forestry and woodland notes in youth, developing mushroom and humus complexity with bottle age. Light to medium body with gentle tannins.
- Domaine Changarnier Monthélie Premier Cru Les Clous$35-50Small domaine with direct parcel access; showcases the soft fruit and fresh acidity typical of the climat.Find →
- Domaine Réyane et Pascal Bouley Monthélie Premier Cru Les Clous$35-55Family domaine producing Monthélie with careful vineyard work and traditional Côte de Beaune winemaking style.Find →
- Pierre Girardin Monthélie Premier Cru Les Clous$40-60Emerging producer gaining recognition for precise, terroir-driven wines across Côte de Beaune sites.Find →
- Les Clous received Premier Cru status in 2006, making it one of Burgundy's more recently classified Premier Cru sites
- Total area is 0.60 hectares; extremely small even by Burgundy standards
- South-southeast aspect on marl over gravelly limestone soils in a cool continental climate
- Both Pinot Noir and Chardonnay are grown here, though red wine production dominates Monthélie overall
- Flavor evolution moves from small red fruits and forest notes in youth to mushroom and humus with age