Clos du Moulin aux Moines | Burgundy Monopole Delight

BURGUNDY VINEYARD

New to iDealwine, Clos du Moulin aux Moines is one of those magical domains in Burgundy, surrounded by vines and full of history. Taken over in 2008 by the Andrieu family, this estate continues to produce wines of higher and higher precision and quality, vintage after vintage. It boasts three monopolies, each in AOC Bourgogne, Auxey-Duresses and Pommard.

Three monopolies: Clos du Moulin aux Moines, Clos de la Perrière and Clos Orgelot

Clos du Moulin aux Moines (which means the enclosure at the windmill of the monks) is both the name of the estate and a three-hectare monopole planted with Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. In a lush, green setting, this enclosed vineyard is protected by a stone wall, and is also bordered by the Cloux stream below (which once fed the mill). The beating heart of the estate, the place is a refuge of biodiversity – “we feel good here” says Willy Roulendes. “There is enough space to plant a tree, to have grassed rows…”. The soil is ploughed with a horse. No chemicals are needed to encourage microbiological activity. The terroir here is composed of red clay and limestone. The Pinot vines were planted in 1952 and 1954, while the Chardonnays date from 2003. The plot, on a hillside, is exposed north/north-east and rises between 250 and 298 metres in altitude. Yields are controlled at 25 to 30 hectolitres per hectare.

To the south of Puligny-Montrachet, in the commune of Corpeau, the Clos de la Perrière is the estate’s second monopole. Located in the heart of the village, it is surrounded by a wall of old stones. Its microclimate allows for early ripening. The soils are sandy-silt-limestone and the plot faces south. Three grape varieties are planted: Aligoté, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. The white Burgundy comes from vines planted in 1972 and 1979.

Finally, the estate owns a third monopole, this time in premier cru in Pommard, the stronghold of the great pinot noirs of the Côte de Beaune. Located south of Beaune, the Clos Orgelot covers 1.08 hectares. It takes its name from a former owner of this parcel. It has a beautiful diversity of red clay and limestone soils. A third of the plot was planted between 1917 and 1920. Beautiful century-old vines stand alongside the other two thirds of the plot, planted in 1990.

The rest of the vintages are spread over the communes of Monthelie, Pernand-Vergelesses and Saint-Romain.