Sous le Dos d'Âne
soo luh DOH dahn
A tiny, sheltered premier cru in the Blagny sector of Meursault, named for the rocky outcrop shaped like a donkey's back.
Sous le Dos d'Âne is a 1.62-hectare Meursault Premier Cru on the upper Blagny slopes, producing mineral Chardonnay. Thin clay-limestone soils and a south-facing aspect protected by a rocky hummock give the wine a precise, linear character. Once planted to Pinot Noir, the vineyard was fully replanted to Chardonnay by 2002.
- Total vineyard area: 1.62 hectares (approximately 4 acres)
- Located in the Blagny sector on the upper slopes of Meursault, Côte de Beaune
- Elevation ranges from approximately 300 to 380 meters
- South-facing aspect sheltered to the north by a rocky, tree-lined hummock
- Soils are thin clay-limestone marl with hard limestone bedrock (argilo-calcaire)
- Formerly classified as Blagny Premier Cru when red Pinot Noir was grown; replanted to Chardonnay by 2002
- Name translates literally as 'Under the Donkey's Back,' referencing the shape of the sheltering rock outcrop
Location and Setting
Sous le Dos d'Âne sits on the upper slopes of the Blagny sector within the commune of Meursault, at elevations ranging from roughly 300 to 380 meters. The vineyard lies just above the celebrated Meursault Perrières climat, placing it in distinguished company. Its south-facing orientation captures morning sunlight, and a natural hummock of stones and trees to the north provides shelter from cold winds, moderating what would otherwise be a very exposed, cool-continental position.
- Situated in the Blagny sector, one of the highest sub-zones of Meursault
- Immediately above Meursault Perrières on the slope
- South-facing with natural windbreak to the north
- Elevation of 300 to 380 meters, notably high for Côte de Beaune
Soils and Terroir
The soils here are characteristically Blagny in style: thin, stony clay-limestone marl (argilo-calcaire) over hard limestone bedrock. The shallow depth of the topsoil forces vine roots deep into the fractured limestone, a key driver of the wine's pronounced mineral character. The combination of lean soils, altitude, and cool continental climate keeps yields naturally low and flavors concentrated, contributing to the precise, taut style that defines this climat.
- Thin clay-limestone marl (argilo-calcaire) over hard limestone bedrock
- Shallow, stony soils typical of the upper Blagny slope
- Limestone parent rock directly influences mineral expression in the wine
- Lean soils naturally constrain vigor and concentrate flavors
History and Classification
The vineyard's name translates as 'Under the Donkey's Back,' a reference to the distinctive rocky outcrop that shelters it. Historically, Sous le Dos d'Âne carried dual classification: wines made from Pinot Noir were sold as Blagny Premier Cru, while white wines qualified as Meursault Premier Cru. The red wine tradition ended around 2002 when the vineyard was fully replanted to Chardonnay, consolidating its identity as a white wine premier cru under the Meursault appellation. Today it is classified solely as Meursault Premier Cru.
- Name references a donkey-shaped rocky outcrop sheltering the vineyard to the north
- Formerly dual-classified: Blagny Premier Cru (red) and Meursault Premier Cru (white)
- Pinot Noir was replaced by Chardonnay; replanting completed by 2002
- Now classified exclusively as Meursault Premier Cru
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Open Wine Lookup →Wine Style and Notable Producers
The wines of Sous le Dos d'Âne display the hallmarks of high-altitude Meursault: crisp acidity, pronounced limestone minerality, and a linear, precise structure that sets them apart from the richer, more textured premiers crus lower on the slope. Citrus and stone fruit notes dominate the flavor profile, with a stony, almost saline mineral finish. The small total area means production is extremely limited. Domaine Leflaive and Olivier Leflaive are among the most recognized names working with this climat, alongside Domaine Chapelle de Blagny, Philippe Chavy, and Antoine Jobard.
- High-altitude position produces leaner, more mineral style than lower Meursault premiers crus
- Citrus, stone fruit, and limestone minerality define the aromatic and flavor profile
- Crisp acidity and linear structure are signature traits
- Notable producers include Domaine Leflaive, Olivier Leflaive, Philippe Chavy, and Antoine Jobard
Precise and linear Chardonnay with citrus zest, white peach, and green apple framed by pronounced limestone minerality and a saline, stony finish. Crisp, high acidity and a taut structure characterize the style, reflecting the thin soils and elevated, sheltered position on the upper Blagny slope.
- Domaine Leflaive Meursault Premier Cru Sous le Dos d'Âne$120-180Leflaive's biodynamic farming and precision winemaking showcase the climat's linear minerality at its most refined.Find →
- Philippe Chavy Meursault Premier Cru Sous le Dos d'Âne$60-85A grower bottling from one of the climat's resident producers, offering direct terroir expression at a more accessible price.Find →
- Antoine Jobard Meursault Premier Cru Sous le Dos d'Âne$90-130Jobard's restrained, low-intervention approach highlights the stony, citrus-driven character of this high-altitude climat.Find →
- Sous le Dos d'Âne is classified as Meursault Premier Cru; it was formerly also classified as Blagny Premier Cru when Pinot Noir was grown, but replanting to Chardonnay was completed by 2002
- The vineyard is 1.62 hectares, located on the upper Blagny slope at 300 to 380 meters elevation, directly above Meursault Perrières
- Soils are thin argilo-calcaire (clay-limestone marl) over hard limestone bedrock; shallow depth and stony texture drive the mineral, linear style
- The name translates as 'Under the Donkey's Back,' referring to the rocky, tree-lined hummock that shelters the south-facing vineyard from the north
- Key producers to know: Domaine Leflaive, Olivier Leflaive, Philippe Chavy, Antoine Jobard, and Domaine Chapelle de Blagny