クロ・サン・ドニ
モレ・サン・ドニ村の北側に位置するクロ・サン・ドニは、総面積６．６２ヘクタールの特級畑である。標高２７０から３００メートル付近の斜面に広がり、石灰岩の基盤岩の上に薄い表土が堆積した土壌を特徴とする。この畑は、村名の一部として採用された歴史を持ち、隣接するクロ・ド・ラ・ロッシュと比較すると、より優美で繊細なスタイルを体現する存在として知られる。主な所有者には、１．４９ヘクタールを有するドメーヌ・ジョルジュ・リニエをはじめ、デュジャックやポンソ、ベルターニャ、ドルーアン・ラローズ、フィリップ・ジュアンといった著名な造り手が名を連ねている。
Clos Saint-Denis takes its name from the Collégiale de Saint-Denis de Vergy, a religious chapter that once held the vineyard. That medieval ownership left a mark that persists in nomenclature: the village of Morey-Saint-Denis added the vineyard's name to its own in 1927, the same year the commune sought to capitalize on the prestige of its grands crus. The AOC was formally established in 1936. The *Clos* designation reflects the walled enclosure that historically defined the parcel — a physical boundary largely dissolved now, but still present in the name.
At 5.99 ha (2008 production area), Clos Saint-Denis is the smallest of the Morey-Saint-Denis grand cru cluster. It borders Clos de la Roche to the north and occupies the central portion of the commune's grand cru band. Pinot Noir is the only variety planted. Regulations require a minimum of 9,000 vines per hectare, 11.5% potential alcohol, and a 35 hl/ha yield ceiling. Production in 2008 ran to roughly 200 hl — around 27,000 bottles.
Where Clos de la Roche leans toward power and structure, Clos Saint-Denis tends in the opposite direction: refined aromatics, silken texture, tannins that are finely woven rather than gripping. The two *clos* are neighbors and foils. Clos Saint-Denis at its best expresses the aromatic precision and luminous red-fruit character that the Morey-Saint-Denis appellation can achieve — without the density that sometimes tips into austerity in its larger neighbor.
Domaine Dujac, based in Morey-Saint-Denis itself, is the defining voice here. Jacques Seysses built the domaine's reputation in part on this *cru*, using whole-cluster fermentation and a restrained extraction approach that draws out the aromatic and almost transparent quality of the wine.
Domaine Ponsot, the reference producer for Clos de la Roche, also works parcels in Clos Saint-Denis — giving collectors the rare chance to compare both sides of this grand cru axis from a single address.
Domaine Bertagna brings long-established holdings and a more traditional hand, with roots in both Morey and Vougeot.
Domaine Heresztyn-Mazzini, based in Gevrey-Chambertin, holds a smaller parcel — a reminder that Clos Saint-Denis draws producers from beyond Morey's borders.
The relatively small number of owners contributes to a more consistent quality profile across releases than the more fragmented neighboring crus.
Côte de Nuits・Rouge · 1947–2024 (5-point overall, newest on right)
| Yr | Score | Window | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | ★★★★★ | Drink early | Frost, hail and mildew made Pinot Noir extremely challenging. Yields fell to a quarter in worst cases and quality is below average. |
| 2023 | ★★★★★ | Drink early | A large crop with seductive fruit but uneven density and consistency. Approachable, charming wines for early-to-medium drinking. |
| 2022 | ★★★★★ | Hold | Despite the heat, perfumed and alluring reds with refined tannins seamlessly bonded to fruit. A modern Burgundy benchmark. |
| 2021 | ★★★★★ | Hold | A return to cool-climate classicism. Village wines are juicy and crunchy; Grands Crus show poise, freshness and elegance. |
| 2020 | ★★★★★ | Hold | Concentrated and dramatic with surprising freshness from early picking. A great vintage with strong long-term aging potential. |
| 2019 | ★★★★★ | Hold | Exceptional vintage with ripeness exceeding many recent years yet retaining classical balance. Outstanding Pinot for medium-to-long aging. |
| 2018 | ★★★★★ | Hold | Dark, vivacious reds combining ripeness with freshness. A superb vintage with structure and depth for long aging. |
| 2017 | ★★★★★ | Drink now | A generous harvest producing supple, accessible reds with juicy fruit and soft tannins — for near-to-medium-term enjoyment. |
| 2016 | ★★★★★ | Drink now | Frost devastated yields, but the survivors made deep-coloured, lively, fleshy reds with soft tannins — charming for medium-term drinking. |
| 2015 | ★★★★★ | Hold | Ripe, vivacious, structured and deeply fruited — one of the great recent vintages with outstanding long-term aging potential. |
| 2014 | ★★★★★ | Drink now | Fresh, vital and energetic reds with more length than amplitude. Elegant and transparent Pinot Noir built for medium-term aging. |
| 2013 | ★★★★★ | Drink now | A cool, late vintage producing pure, crisp, fresh reds with clear site definition. Medium-term wines with terroir-driven character. |
| 2012 | ★★★★★ | Drink now | Frost and hail cut yields severely, but survivors produced harmonious reds with structure and balance, built for graceful aging. |
| 2011 | ★★★★★ | Drink now | Lighter than 2010 and less opulent than 2009, but with pure Pinot character. Charming, approachable and best enjoyed in the near term. |
| 2010 | ★★★★★ | At peak | A classical masterpiece with ideal balance of fruit, acidity and tannin. Complex, concentrated and now entering its peak drinking window. |
| 2009 | ★★★★★ | Hold | A celebrated vintage of ripe, pure fruit; top wines built for the long haul. |
| 2008 | ★★★★★ | At peak | A late, small harvest yielding pure, vibrant reds; an underrated vintage. |
| 2007 | ★★★★★ | At peak | Fruity, vivid, elegant reds for early to mid-term drinking. |
| 2006 | ★★★★★ | At peak | Charming, fruity reds with ripeness and balance; drinking well now. |
| 2005 | ★★★★★ | Hold | A historic vintage ranking among the best since 1978; ripe, dense yet pure and balanced. |
| 2004 | ★★★★★ | At peak | Hail and oidium challenged the year; meticulous sorting yielded elegant reds. |
| 2003 | ★★★★★ | At peak | Historic heatwave year; exotic, concentrated wines destined to be classics, though polarising. |
| 2002 | ★★★★★ | At peak | Fresh, balanced and elegant; successful from top to bottom across the appellation. |
| 2001 | ★★★★★ | At peak | Top wines are lean, structured and potentially long-lived. |
| 2000 | ★★★★★ | Past peak | Rain softened the wines; many lack structure and are now past prime. |
| 1999 | ★★★★★ | At peak | A modern reference vintage; juicy, rich, vibrant Pinots from top domaines. |
| 1998 | ★★★★★ | Past peak | Uneven due to frost and hail; top wines age well but most suited to drink early. |
| 1997 | ★★★★★ | Past peak | Ripe, soft Pinots with low natural acidity for early drinking. |
| 1996 | ★★★★★ | At peak | A classic vintage with vivid acidity and concentration; grands crus showing brilliantly. |
| 1995 | ★★★★★ | At peak | Elegant, firm reds with ripe fruit and refined tannins. |
| 1994 | ★★★★★ | Past peak | September rain caused rot; a tough vintage with high-acid survivors. |
| 1993 | ★★★★★ | Past peak | Thick-skinned grapes yielded dense, tannic, classically structured reds. |
| 1992 | ★★★★★ | Past peak | A generous, supple vintage lacking structure; suited to early drinking. |
| 1991 | ★★★★★ | Past peak | Frost and hail tested the year, but Cote de Nuits ripened before rain to good effect. |
| 1990 | ★★★★★ | At peak | A historic vintage of richness, concentration and structure; top wines still majestic. |
| 1989 | ★★★★★ | Past peak | Ripe and seductive, almost matching 1990 in quality with refined elegance. |
| 1988 | ★★★★★ | Past peak | A warm September produced structured reds; the start of a celebrated trio. |
| 1987 | ★★★★★ | Past peak | Difficult flowering led to modest wines; most are past peak today. |
| 1986 | ★★★★★ | Past peak | A difficult year of rain and rot; quality wines were rare. |
| 1985 | ★★★★★ | Past peak | A historic vintage of grace, balance, ripe fruit and great ageing potential. |
| 1983 | ★★★★★ | Past peak | Heat and rot made for a mixed year; some powerful, concentrated reds emerged. |
| 1982 | ★★★★★ | Past peak | A huge crop diluted many wines; top examples offered early-drinking pleasure. |
| 1980 | ★★★★★ | Past peak | Initially underestimated; later valued for balance and aromatic finesse. |
| 1978 | ★★★★★ | Past peak | A late-harvest masterpiece of the century, combining richness and refinement. |
| 1976 | ★★★★★ | Past peak | A hot summer produced concentrated, tannic reds that aged well. |
| 1972 | ★★★★★ | Past peak | A cool year with austere acidity at first; top wines aged beautifully. |
| 1971 | ★★★★★ | Past peak | A classic vintage of concentration and structure; gained depth with long ageing. |
| 1969 | ★★★★★ | Past peak | Elegant with great longevity; Cote de Nuits achieved historic success. |
| 1966 | ★★★★★ | Past peak | Remembered as a classic vintage of balance and elegance. |
| 1964 | ★★★★★ | Past peak | A rich, concentrated vintage that aged with distinction. |
| 1962 | ★★★★★ | Past peak | A notable late-20th-century vintage producing elegant, perfumed reds. |
| 1961 | ★★★★★ | Past peak | A concentrated, structured year; less famous than Bordeaux but a classic. |
| 1959 | ★★★★★ | Past peak | A pinnacle of the 1950s combining generosity, elegance and finesse. |
| 1957 | ★★★★★ | Past peak | An excellent vintage producing velvety, balanced wines. |
| 1955 | ★★★★★ | Past peak | Considered among the outstanding Burgundy vintages of the late 20th century. |
| 1953 | ★★★★★ | Past peak | A vintage of rare elegance and charm; a Europe-wide success. |
| 1949 | ★★★★★ | Past peak | A post-war masterpiece combining balance and elegance; a Burgundy benchmark. |
| 1947 | ★★★★★ | Past peak | A legendary vintage of the century; extreme heat produced rare concentration. |
Aggregated consensus from professional and trade assessments. Individual vineyards or producers may diverge.
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