Les Cras

Les Cras is one of the climats listed in the Chambolle-Musigny specification whose name may follow the appellation for wines meeting the premier cru rules. The village appellation was first recognised by the decree of 11 September 1936, and a list of climats eligible for the premier cru mention was drawn up in 1943. That list reserved the mention for the best-known names, attested in particular in the 19th century. The premier cru classification covers only part of Les Cras, 3.45 hectares, and Les Cras is also listed among the village-level lieux-dits that may appear on Chambolle-Musigny labels. Roumier lists its holding at 275 to 300 metres, with an east and southeast exposure on a 10% slope, and places the climat at the foot of the slope on gently sloping ground.

• One of 24 premier cru climats in Chambolle-Musigny
• Premier cru in part only: 3.45 ha
• Appellation recognised by decree of 11 September 1936; premier cru climat list drawn up in 1943
• Roumier's holding: 275 to 300 m, east and southeast exposure, 10% slope

At Chambolle-Musigny the face of the Côte is made of Bajocian and Bathonian limestones, with the especially compact Comblanchien limestone forming the backbone of the relief. Soils run from thin, very calcareous soils at the top of the slope to clay-richer soils further down. Roumier describes the subsoil of its Les Cras as Upper Bajocian marly limestone rich in Ostrea fossils, and credits the soil's active limestone with the wine's mineral character. Barthod's Les Cras comes from white soil with more marl, while some red soil lies in Roumier's part of the climat.

• Côte face of Bajocian and Bathonian limestones, with Comblanchien limestone as the backbone
• Roumier's parcel: Upper Bajocian marly limestone subsoil, soil rich in active limestone
• Barthod's parcel: white soil with more marl; red soil in Roumier's part

Domaine Georges Roumier bottles a Chambolle-Musigny Premier Cru Les Cras and lists 1.7553 hectares, an average vine age of 45 years and a yield of 34 hl/ha. Roumier destems 70% of the harvest, ferments with indigenous yeasts only, ages the wine for 16 months in oak with 25% new barrels, and neither fines nor filters. Domaine Ghislaine Barthod counts Les Cras among its Chambolle-Musigny premier crus, alongside Baudes, Beaux-Bruns, Charmes, Chatelots, Combottes, Fuées and Véroilles.

• Domaine Georges Roumier: 1.7553 ha; vines averaging 45 years
• Roumier: 70% destemmed, indigenous yeasts, 16 months in oak, 25% new barrels
• Domaine Ghislaine Barthod: Les Cras among eight Chambolle-Musigny premier crus in the range

Chambolle-Musigny premier cru wines are distinguished by their concentration and greater firmness, and their ageing potential varies with the vintage and the climat. Roumier describes its Les Cras as adding a spring-like nose of acacia, dog rose and lilac to the appellation's red fruit, with delicate tannins, good length and a touch of minerality on the finish, and gives an average keeping time of 4 to 20 years. Clive Coates, writing in Decanter, found that among Barthod's premier crus "the Cras is the most noble and the most austere."

• Chambolle-Musigny premier cru: more concentration and firmness
• Roumier's Les Cras: acacia, dog rose and lilac; delicate tannins; mineral finish; 4 to 20 years

Sources: https://www.bourgogne-wines.com/wine-and-terroir/bourgogne-and-its-appellations/gallery_files/site/321/19990/20204.pdf, https://www.bourgogne-wines.com/wine-and-terroir/bourgogne-and-its-appellations/gallery_files/site/321/402/57644/57670.pdf, https://www.roumier.com/fr_FR/vin/chambolle-musigny-1er-cru-les-cras, https://www.burgundy-report.com/discover-burgundy/9-an-a-z-of-burgundian-appellations/aoc-chambolle-musigny/, https://www.decanter.com/features/burgundy-going-it-alone-together-246740/, https://www.burgundy-report.com/burgundy-report-extra/09-2021/louis-boillot-ghislaine-barthod-2020/. Last verified 2026-10-14