Mazoyères-Chambertin Grand Cru

Mazoyères-Chambertin earned its Grand Cru status on 31 July 1937, when the INAO formally classified the Grand Cru vineyards of Gevrey-Chambertin. From the outset, a distinctive legal provision was embedded in the decree: wines from Mazoyères-Chambertin may be sold under the Charmes-Chambertin appellation, though the reverse is not permitted. This has shaped the climat's entire commercial history, as producers have typically preferred the better-known Charmes name. The word 'Mazoyères' itself derives from the old French for hamlet, a reference to a cluster of dwellings that once occupied the site. The Domaine de la Vougeraie has parcels of vines planted as early as 1901 and 1902, offering a tangible link to the vineyard's pre-classification past.

• Grand Cru AOC formally established 31 July 1937 alongside the other Chambertin crus
• The name derives from the French word for hamlet, referencing buildings that once stood on the site
• Domaine de la Vougeraie's vines date to 1901 and 1902, among the oldest documented plantings in the climat
• Legal provision allows Mazoyères fruit to be sold as Charmes-Chambertin, making the Mazoyères label rare

Mazoyères-Chambertin occupies the southern end of Gevrey-Chambertin's Grand Cru band, with its southern boundary touching the border of Morey-Saint-Denis. The vineyard faces east at around 260 metres elevation, below the Route des Grands Crus. It is bordered to the west by Latricières-Chambertin and the Premier Cru Aux Combottes, to the north by Charmes-Chambertin, and to the east by village-level Gevrey-Chambertin vines. The soils are thin clay-limestone over a deeper calcareous bedrock, laced with iron-rich pebbles locally known as 'grich'. This combination drains freely, encourages deep root development, and imparts a distinctive mineral character to the wines. The easternmost, flatter portions closest to the main road have long been the subject of debate, as the slope diminishes and quality is considered more variable than the elevated parcels to the west.

• East-facing slope at approximately 260 metres elevation, at the southern tip of Gevrey-Chambertin's Grand Cru belt
• Thin clay-limestone soils over calcareous bedrock, with iron-oxide-rich gravels adding mineral character
• Borders Latricières-Chambertin and Aux Combottes to the west, Morey-Saint-Denis Premiers Crus to the south
• Continental climate delivers a temperate growing season; grapes ripen fully while retaining natural acidity

Pinot Noir is the dominant variety; AOC regulations also permit up to 15% of Chardonnay, Pinot Blanc, and Pinot Gris as accessory grapes, though this provision is practically never used at Grand Cru level. The minimum natural alcohol is 11.5%, and the base yield is set at 37 hl/ha. Wines from the climat are classically Gevrey-Chambertin in character: structured, body-forward, and earthy, with real depth and aging potential. The upper, steeper parcels tend to produce more elegant and finely chiselled wines, while the flatter, lower-lying sections near the road can be richer and denser. The Vougeraie's century-old vines and Camus's large, concentrated blocks demonstrate the range of expression possible across the 18.58 hectares.

• Pinot Noir is the primary variety; up to 15% white accessory grapes permitted but essentially never used
• Base yield of 37 hl/ha and minimum natural alcohol of 11.5% under AOC rules
• Upper parcels yield elegant, structured wines; flatter lower sections produce richer, denser expressions
• Flavour profile typically shows dark cherry, earth, forest floor, and spice, developing leather and truffle with age

Because most Mazoyères fruit is sold as Charmes-Chambertin, the list of producers who actually bottle under the Mazoyères-Chambertin label is small. Domaine Camus Père et Fils holds approximately 3.87 hectares and is among the most significant proprietors in the climat. Domaine de la Vougeraie (Boisset family, established 1999) farms parcels planted in 1901 and 1902 and labels them as Charmes-Chambertin Les Mazoyères. Domaine Taupenot-Merme is one of the specialists praised for maintaining the Mazoyères-Chambertin label. Domaine Armand Rousseau, one of Gevrey-Chambertin's most celebrated estates, produces a Charmes-Chambertin that comes predominantly from Mazoyères fruit, though it is released under the Charmes label. Denis Bachelet is also acclaimed for his old-vine Charmes-Chambertin sourced from this southern climat.

• Domaine Camus: approximately 3.87 hectares in Mazoyères-Chambertin; one of the largest single-owner blocks in the climat
• Domaine de la Vougeraie: century-old vines (planted 1901-1902); bottled as Charmes-Chambertin Les Mazoyères
• Domaine Taupenot-Merme: specialist praised for maintaining the Mazoyères-Chambertin appellation on the label
• Armand Rousseau: Charmes-Chambertin is fruit-forward and elegant, coming mostly from the Mazoyères parcel

The defining legal peculiarity of Mazoyères-Chambertin is its interchangeability with Charmes-Chambertin. Since its classification in 1937, producers with fruit in the Mazoyères climat have been free to bottle under either AOC name. The Charmes-Chambertin appellation, covering 12.25 hectares (the Aux Charmes lieu-dit), combines with Mazoyères's 18.58 hectares to form the largest Grand Cru in Gevrey-Chambertin at over 30 hectares in total. Because Charmes carries greater commercial recognition, roughly 90% of Mazoyères fruit is sold under that name. The base yield for both appellations is fixed at 37 hl/ha, with a minimum planting density of 9,000 vines per hectare and a minimum natural alcohol of 11.5%.

• AOC created 31 July 1937; Mazoyères fruit may be sold as Charmes-Chambertin, but Charmes fruit cannot use the Mazoyères name
• Combined Charmes and Mazoyères area exceeds 30 hectares, making it the largest Grand Cru in Gevrey-Chambertin
• Base yield: 37 hl/ha; minimum planting density: 9,000 vines per hectare; minimum natural alcohol: 11.5%
• Approximately 90% of Mazoyères production is commercially released as Charmes-Chambertin

Mazoyères-Chambertin's relative obscurity means bottles labeled under that name are genuinely rare, with as few as around 9,000 bottles produced in some years. For collectors, this scarcity cuts both ways: authentic Mazoyères-Chambertin bottlings offer an unusual opportunity to experience a Grand Cru climat under its true name, but secondary market volumes are limited. The wines are built for the cellar, with Burgundy's official guidance pointing to a minimum keeping potential of 10 years for the combined Charmes and Mazoyères appellation. Top producers' expressions from parcels with century-old vines have aging potential well beyond that baseline. Serving temperature of 14 to 16 degrees Celsius is recommended.

• Genuinely rare under the Mazoyères-Chambertin label; as few as approximately 9,000 bottles in some vintages
• Official minimum keeping potential of 10 years; old-vine examples from top producers can evolve for considerably longer
• Recommended serving temperature of 14 to 16 degrees Celsius for optimal aromatic expression
• Rarity of the Mazoyères label distinguishes these bottlings from the commercially dominant Charmes-Chambertin releases