Clos de Vougeot

Burgundy · France · Wine Auction Prices

Clos de Vougeot is Burgundy's most historically significant grand cru and its largest at 50.6 hectares — a medieval vineyard enclosed by stone walls the Cistercian monks of Cîteaux began building in the 12th century. The clos was sold intact after the Revolution to a single owner, then progressively fragmented; today over 80 proprietors share the vineyard, producing wildly variable quality within the same grand cru appellation. The upper quarter (closest to the château) sits on thin, stony soils over Premeaux limestone and produces the finest wine; the lower section borders a road on heavy, water-retentive clay that struggles to ripen. With 6,750 lots at auction, Clos de Vougeot from elite producers — Leroy, Méo-Camuzet, Gros Frère, Lamarche — regularly exceeds $500 per bottle, while generic négociant versions may trade under $80. The Château du Clos de Vougeot hosts the Confrérie des Chevaliers du Tastevin, Burgundy's most famous wine fraternity.