Scarcity, Down To The Vine
Burgundy's Grand Cru vineyards are divided into some of the smallest, most fragmented parcels in the wine world, where producer and plot matter as much as the appellation itself.
CLIMATE
Burgundy's climate is continental rather than maritime, with colder winters, warmer summers and a real risk of spring frost, part of why vintage quality swings so much from year to year, even between neighbouring vineyards.
TERROIR
Burgundy's terroir is defined by fragmentation rather than scale. Grand Cru vineyards are divided into tiny parcels across dozens of individual owners, so producer and plot matter as much as the appellation itself.
Domaine Georges Roumier's entire Musigny holding covers less than a tenth of a hectare, while Domaine Leroy farms a similarly small mosaic of parcels across Chambertin, Richebourg and Romanée-Saint-Vivant.
1. Monopoles: Domaine de la Romanée-Conti holds two full monopoles, Romanée-Conti and La Tâche, giving it complete control over two of Burgundy's most famous vineyards.
2. Biodynamic: Farming Domaine Leroy has farmed biodynamically since the late 1980s, with low yields and intensive manual work across all its holdings.
HISTORY
Burgundy's obsession with individual vineyard sites dates to the twelfth century, when Cistercian monks from the Abbey of Cîteaux began mapping and walling off distinct parcels, work that produced the Clos de Vougeot and effectively invented the concept of terroir. That same instinct to treat each plot as genuinely different still defines Burgundy's classification system today, from village wines through Premier and Grand Cru.
REGION SNAPSHOT
Key Sub-Region
Côte de Nuits
Key Varietie
Pinot Noir
Classifications
Grand Cru AOC, Premier Cru AOC
PORTFOLIO ADVICE
Your portfolio manager can discuss current market conditions, your existing holdings and the role fine wine could play within your wider investment strategy.
