Volnay 1er Cru Clos du Château des Ducs Monopole
At a Glance
- Size: 0.57 ha (1.41 ac)
- Variety: Pinot Noir
- Vine Age: Planted 1946-1985, 2000
- Terroir: Very gentle slope facing southeast. Deep, brown, clay soils on limestone. Monopole and true clos located in the garden of Domaine Lafarge. 290-meters elevation.
- Viticulture: Certified organic (Ecocert) and biodynamic (Demeter)
- Vinification: 100% de-stemmed, pneumatic press, indigenous yeast fermentation, lightly settled. Aged for 18 months in older barrels, unfiltered.
Additional Info
Site: The Clos de Chateau des Ducs is located in Volnay, in the humble garden of the Lafarge Domain—making this hidden gem a true clos as well as a true monopole. The vineyard sits at an elevation of 290 meters. The slope is very gentle. It faces southeast. The vineyard is quiet and small with lush green trees, and there are even a few wandering chickens.
Geology and Soil: The soil here is deep because it stays in place thanks to the walls of the clos. The soil is brown (very little iron) and clay-rich. After about 35-40 cm of brown clay soil, there is a 25-centimeter layer of gravel—giving the vineyard excellent drainage.
Lafarge Parcel: Le Clos du Château des Ducs is a parcel that belongs entirely to the Lafarge domain, called a "monopole" in French.
The walls of the clos provide protection in many ways—they protect the soils from washing away or receiving outside material, and they also protect the vines from wind and frost, making this vineyard one of the warmest and often one of the first to be harvested. Frédéric believes that the well-drained soils make for lighter, softer wines.
With many thanks to geologist Brenna Quigley for her illustration, and for putting the physical and geologic aspects of these vineyards into words far more meaningful than we could have written on our own. https://www.brennaquigley.com