Les Rouvrettes

Les Rouvrettes sits southeast of the village of Savigny-lès-Beaune in the Côte de Beaune. The vineyard occupies a northeast-facing slope at elevations between 250 and 400 metres. Notably, the site is split in two, with the upper portion holding Premier Cru status and the lower half classified as village-level Savigny-lès-Beaune. This division reflects how precisely Burgundy's classification system responds to subtle differences in terroir across relatively short distances.

• Located southeast of Savigny-lès-Beaune village
• Northeast-facing aspect across the full site
• Upper section is Premier Cru; lower section is village-level
• Elevation range of 250 to 400 metres

The soils at Les Rouvrettes are red-brown limestone with clayey and pebbly characteristics, typical of the Côte de Beaune's geological profile. The continental climate of Burgundy brings warm summers and cold winters, with the northeast-facing aspect of Les Rouvrettes moderating the intensity of afternoon sun. This cooler exposure tends to produce wines with more restrained fruit and structural finesse rather than the opulent weight found in south or southeast-facing sites.

• Red-brown limestone base with clay and pebble content
• Continental climate with warm summers and cold winters
• Northeast aspect limits afternoon sun exposure
• Cooler terroir character supports fine-textured wine style

The history of Les Rouvrettes is closely tied to the Girard family. The vineyard was formerly part of Domaine Girard-Vollot, a single estate. In 1998, the property was divided between two brothers, creating Domaine Jean-Jacques Girard and Domaine Philippe Girard as separate operations. Both domaines continue to work the site today, making Les Rouvrettes a useful case study in the kind of family division that has shaped parcel ownership throughout Burgundy over generations.

• Formerly unified under Domaine Girard-Vollot
• Divided between two brothers in 1998
• Now split between Domaine Jean-Jacques Girard and Domaine Philippe Girard
• Family division mirrors broader patterns of Burgundy ownership fragmentation

Les Rouvrettes produces red wine exclusively from Pinot Noir. The northeast-facing aspect and limestone-clay soils give the wine a delicate, fine-textured character rather than a broad, powerful profile. Savigny-lès-Beaune Premier Crus from cooler exposures like this tend toward elegance, with restrained fruit, earthy minerality, and refined tannins. The wines reward moderate cellaring and pair well with lighter preparations of meat and poultry.