Les Frionnes

Les Frionnes sits within the commune of Saint-Aubin on the Côte de Beaune, one of Burgundy's most quietly reliable sources of Premier Cru quality. The vineyard occupies a southeast to east-southeast facing slope at elevations between 300 and 350 metres. This aspect captures morning sun while the elevation tempers ripening, a combination well suited to preserving freshness and aromatic lift in the wines. Saint-Aubin itself borders Chassagne-Montrachet and Puligny-Montrachet, and Les Frionnes shares the broader geological character of the Côte de Beaune's limestone-dominated hillsides.

• Commune: Saint-Aubin, Côte de Beaune, Burgundy, France
• Elevation: 300-350 metres above sea level
• Aspect: Southeast and east-southeast facing
• Continental climate with cold winters and warm, dry summers

The soils at Les Frionnes are defined by clay-limestone with stony inclusions, underlain by white marl over solid limestone bedrock. This combination is characteristic of the Côte de Beaune's upper slopes and directly influences the wine's mineral character. The clay fraction retains moisture during dry periods, while the limestone and marl promote drainage and contribute the chalky, precise texture that marks the best Saint-Aubin whites. The stony surface also reflects heat and helps achieve even ripening across the site.

• Clay-limestone with stones at the surface
• White marl subsoil over solid limestone bedrock
• Similar geological profile to neighboring Puligny-Montrachet and Chassagne-Montrachet
• Stone content promotes drainage and heat reflection

Les Frionnes functions as an umbrella Premier Cru designation, officially encompassing the neighboring lieu-dits Es Champs and Les Perrières. Producers may label wines under the Les Frionnes name while drawing fruit from these adjacent plots, a common arrangement in Burgundy where smaller lieux-dits are grouped under a single recognized Premier Cru title. The vineyard's vine history spans multiple generations, with plantings recorded between 1935 and 1985. This range of vine ages contributes complexity and concentration to the wines, as older vines naturally yield lower volumes with more intense flavor.

• Umbrella designation covering lieu-dits Es Champs and Les Perrières
• Vine plantings span 1935 to 1985 across multiple generations
• Grouped designation is common practice in Burgundy's Premier Cru system
• Older vines contribute lower yields and greater flavor concentration

Les Frionnes produces both white and red wines, with Chardonnay dominating production as is typical across Saint-Aubin. The whites display mineral freshness alongside citrus and orchard fruit notes, reflecting the limestone-rich soils and the site's elevated, well-exposed position. Pinot Noir grown here offers the lighter, more elegant expression characteristic of Côte de Beaune reds. The appellation as a whole remains one of Burgundy's best value Premier Cru sources, and Les Frionnes attracts producers with strong reputations for quality. Domaine Hubert Lamy, one of Saint-Aubin's most celebrated estates, works the site alongside Henri Prudhon and Fils, Domaine François d'Allaines, Domaine André Moingeon et Fils, and Marc Colin.

• Chardonnay and Pinot Noir both permitted and grown
• White wines show mineral freshness, citrus, and orchard fruit character
• Pinot Noir delivers lighter, elegant Côte de Beaune red style
• Notable producers include Domaine Hubert Lamy and Marc Colin