Discover the Clos de la Roche Grand Cru appellation and its 2 Hospices de Beaune cuvées

Clos de la Roche Grand Cru wine style

Inimitable, a true monument to the pride of the village of Morey-Saint-Denis, Clos de la Roche is a grand cru that embodies a powerful yet racy interpretation of the Côte de Nuits. This emblematic terroir gives rise to wines of great intensity, where assertive structure is balanced with natural elegance. Less immediately charming than some neighboring grands crus, it is distinguished by impressive depth and a capacity to evolve slowly, revealing over time all the nobility of its origin. Cuvées from the Hospices de Beaune often add an extra dimension of precision and uprightness.

In this prestigious appellation, Pinot Noir has a deep ruby color, sometimes almost garnet in concentrated vintages. The nose is initially dense and reserved, gradually opening up to aromas of ripe black fruits - blackberry, blackcurrant, black cherry - accompanied by more discreet floral notes of peony and violet. With aeration, more complex nuances of licorice, cedar, graphite and undergrowth emerge. Over the years, the intrinsic minerality of this majestic appellation, named after the rock, reveals itself in an exquisite palette of aromas, both dark and refined, bearing witness to the restrained power of Clos de la Roche. A wine in a class of its own.

On the palate, Clos de la Roche impresses with its density and structure. The attack is frank and ample, quickly supported by tannins that are present but always very noble. They give the wine a solid architecture without sacrificing harmony. The substance is deep, carried by a beautiful freshness that stretches the finish with persistence. As the years go by, the tannins mellow, the texture becomes velvety and the tertiary aromas enrich the whole, revealing all the complexity of the cru.

The best vintages thus offer remarkable ageing potential, lasting several decades, where patience and curiosity allow us to fully appreciate the majestic evolution of this great wine. As with the best wines from the Hospices or from around the world, the discerning wine-lover will be able to wait patiently... or buy ready-to-drink wines from the spendid selection in our online store, available immediately.

Buy a Clos de la Roche Grand Cru at the Hospices de Beaune auction with Albert Bichot

Two cuvées from this exceptional appellation are auctioned every 3rd Sunday in November: cuvée George Kritter and cuvée Cyrot-Chaudron. They are identical in every respect, coming from the same plot and the same vat before entonnage (barrel filling). They bear the names of the two donor families who made the acquisition of this exceptional parcel possible in the early 1990s. Our house Albert Bichot is a regular purchaser, and we offer a limited number of immediately available old vintages of these top wines to buy on our online store.

The Clos de la Roche terroir

Clos de la Roche Grand Cru, located in Morey-Saint-Denis, is an emblematic terroir of the Côte de Nuits, renowned for the power and structure of its wines. The soil is mainly limestone, composed of outcropping slabs and rocky scree, shallow but highly draining, which favors grape concentration and the aromatic richness of pinot noir.

The exposure is east to southeast, with an average altitude of between 260 and 300 meters, offering ideal sunshine and slow, gradual ripening of the grapes. This combination of stony soil, gentle slope and altitude gives Clos de la Roche wines their density, finesse and remarkable ageing potential.

Clos de la Roche Grand Cru climats within the Hospices de Beaune parcel system

• Clos de la Roche Grand Cru Cuvée Georges Kritter: Les Froichots
• Clos de la Roche Grand Cru Cuvée Cyrot Chaudron: Les Froichots

Clos de la Roche Grand Cru map

Etymology & history

The etymology of Clos de la Roche in Burgundy is directly linked to the historical topography of the area:
- Clos: in Burgundy, this term refers to a parcel of vines bounded by walls. Clos were often owned by monks or large estates to protect crops and mark the property.
- Roch: refers to the very stony (rocky), outcropping soil, composed of limestone slabs and scree. This bedrock is characteristic of the Morey-Saint-Denis terroir and contributes to the structured power of the wines.

Clos de la Roche literally means the enclosed vineyard situated on rocky ground. Historically, the name dates back to the Middle Ages, when plots were identified according to their physical characteristics. The term thus underlines both a human delimitation (the clos) and a geological signature (the rock), essential to the identity of Burgundy's grands crus.

Discover all the appellations of the Domaine des Hospices de Beaune

Key facts about Clos de la Roche Grand Cru appellation