Clos Saint-Jacques
Encyclopedia
Clos Saint-Jacques is a Premier Cru vineyard
used to produce red wine from Pinot Noir
grapes in the Côte de Nuits
region of Burgundy
. It is situated in the Gevrey-Chambertin
Appellation d'origine contrôlée
.
, the destination of the Way of St. James
pilgrimage.
In the seventeenth century, ownership of the vineyard passed from the Cathedral Chapter of Saint-Mammes
to the Morizot family. Throughout the 19th century, the vineyard was a Monopole
of the Comte de Moucheron.
It was split up and sold in 1954 by the Comte de Moucheron to four producers. One of these producers was Henri Esmonin, who at the time of the sale was the metayage
for the vineyard and bought 1.6 hectares. The other producers were Domaine Armand Rousseau
who purchased 2.20 hectares, approximately 1 hectare was purchased by the Fourrier family and 2 hectares were purchased by Domaine Clair-Dau.
The bottom section of the vineyard was planted with alfalfa
instead of grapes up until the sale in 1954. Vines were planted shortly afterward by the new owners.
(INAO) official classification, Dr Jules Lavelle in 1855 and Camille Rodier in 1920, both rated Clos Saint-Jacques as the highest level of "1ère Cuvée".
A decision was made in the 1930s by the newly formed INAO that only vineyards directly touching the borders of the Chambertin
and Clos de Beze vineyards would be eligible to be designated as Grand Cru in Gevrey-Chambertin, so Clos Saint-Jacque was given Premier Cru status.
Modern wine writers such as Clive Coates
say that Clos Saint-Jacques "is clearly head and shoulders above all the other Gevrey premier crus" and "like Clos-Saint-Jacques in Gevrey Chambertin, is regarded by most - and priced accordingly - as the equal of a grand cru". Jancis Robinson
says that Clos Saint Jacques is "always regarded as a Grand Cru in all but name".
own 1 hectare each, which was split between them from the land purchased by Domaine Clair-Dau. Domaine Fourrier holds 0.89 of a hectare that was originally purchased by the family.
Vineyard
A vineyard is a plantation of grape-bearing vines, grown mainly for winemaking, but also raisins, table grapes and non-alcoholic grape juice...
used to produce red wine from Pinot Noir
Pinot Noir
Pinot noir is a black wine grape variety of the species Vitis vinifera. The name may also refer to wines created predominantly from Pinot noir grapes...
grapes in the Côte de Nuits
Côte de Nuits
The Côte de Nuits is a French wine region located in the northern part of the Côte d'Or, the limestone ridge that is at the heart of the Burgundy wine region. It extends from Dijon to just south of Nuits-Saint-Georges, which gives its name to the district and is the regional center...
region of Burgundy
Burgundy wine
Burgundy wine is wine made in the Burgundy region in eastern France, in the valleys and slopes west of the Saône River, a tributary of the Rhône. The most famous wines produced here - those commonly referred to as "Burgundies" - are red wines made from Pinot Noir grapes or white wines made from...
. It is situated in the Gevrey-Chambertin
Gevrey-Chambertin wine
Gevrey-Chambertin wine is produced in the communes of Gevrey-Chambertin and Brochon in the Côte de Nuits subregion of Burgundy. The Appellation d'origine contrôlée Gevrey-Chambertin may be used only for red wine with Pinot Noir as the main grape variety...
Appellation d'origine contrôlée
Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée
Appellation d’origine contrôlée , which translates as "controlled designation of origin", is the French certification granted to certain French geographical indications for wines, cheeses, butters, and other agricultural products, all under the auspices of the government bureau Institut National...
.
History
The vineyard was named after a statue of Saint James that had been placed in the area, as it was a resting point on the way to Santiago de CompostelaSantiago de Compostela
Santiago de Compostela is the capital of the autonomous community of Galicia, Spain.The city's Cathedral is the destination today, as it has been throughout history, of the important 9th century medieval pilgrimage route, the Way of St. James...
, the destination of the Way of St. James
Way of St. James
The Way of St. James or St. James' Way is the pilgrimage route to the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela in Galicia in northwestern Spain, where tradition has it that the remains of the apostle Saint James are buried....
pilgrimage.
In the seventeenth century, ownership of the vineyard passed from the Cathedral Chapter of Saint-Mammes
Saint-Mammès
Saint-Mammès is a commune in the Seine-et-Marne department in the Île-de-France region in north-central France.-External links:* * * *...
to the Morizot family. Throughout the 19th century, the vineyard was a Monopole
Monopole (wine)
A monopole is an area controlled by a single winery and can be as small as a lieu-dit or as large as an entire appellation d'origine contrôlée, such as Bordeaux or Champagne. Frequently this is mentioned on the label and it is rare for only one winery to produce all the wine from an area...
of the Comte de Moucheron.
It was split up and sold in 1954 by the Comte de Moucheron to four producers. One of these producers was Henri Esmonin, who at the time of the sale was the metayage
Metayage
The Metayage system is the cultivation of land for a proprietor by one who receives a proportion of the produce, as a kind of sharecropping.-Origin and function:...
for the vineyard and bought 1.6 hectares. The other producers were Domaine Armand Rousseau
Domaine Armand Rousseau
Domaine Armand Rousseau is a French wine grower and producer. It is based in Gevrey-Chambertin, in the Côte de Nuits wine-growing region of Burgundy, France.-History:...
who purchased 2.20 hectares, approximately 1 hectare was purchased by the Fourrier family and 2 hectares were purchased by Domaine Clair-Dau.
The bottom section of the vineyard was planted with alfalfa
Alfalfa
Alfalfa is a flowering plant in the pea family Fabaceae cultivated as an important forage crop in the US, Canada, Argentina, France, Australia, the Middle East, South Africa, and many other countries. It is known as lucerne in the UK, France, Australia, South Africa and New Zealand, and known as...
instead of grapes up until the sale in 1954. Vines were planted shortly afterward by the new owners.
Status
Two authorities on Burgundy prior to the present day Institut National des Appellations d'OrigineInstitut National des Appellations d'Origine
The Institut National des Appellations d'Origine is the French organization charged with regulating French agricultural products with Protected Designations of Origin . Controlled by the French government, it forms part of the Ministry of Agriculture...
(INAO) official classification, Dr Jules Lavelle in 1855 and Camille Rodier in 1920, both rated Clos Saint-Jacques as the highest level of "1ère Cuvée".
A decision was made in the 1930s by the newly formed INAO that only vineyards directly touching the borders of the Chambertin
Chambertin
Chambertin is an Appellation d'origine contrôlée and Grand Cru vineyard for red wine in the Côte de Nuits subregion of Burgundy, with Pinot Noir as the main grape variety. Chambertin is located within the commune of Gevrey-Chambertin, and it is situated approximately in the centre of a group of...
and Clos de Beze vineyards would be eligible to be designated as Grand Cru in Gevrey-Chambertin, so Clos Saint-Jacque was given Premier Cru status.
Modern wine writers such as Clive Coates
Clive Coates
Clive Coates is a British wine writer and Master of Wine, best known for his books about the wines of Burgundy.-Biography:Born in 1941, Clive Coates worked for The Wine Society in Stevenage in the late 1960s and early 1970s. In 1975 he founded the award-winning magazine The Vine, a monthly fine...
say that Clos Saint-Jacques "is clearly head and shoulders above all the other Gevrey premier crus" and "like Clos-Saint-Jacques in Gevrey Chambertin, is regarded by most - and priced accordingly - as the equal of a grand cru". Jancis Robinson
Jancis Robinson
Jancis Mary Robinson OBE, MW is a British wine critic, journalist and editor of wine literature. She currently writes a weekly column for the Financial Times, and writes for her website jancisrobinson.com...
says that Clos Saint Jacques is "always regarded as a Grand Cru in all but name".
Production
The vineyard is 6.7 hectares in size and there are five strips, running from the top to the bottom of the vineyard, currently owned by five different producers. The largest holder is Domaine Armand Rousseau with the original 2.20 hectares purchased by the Domaine. Sylvie Esmonin, the grand-daughter of Henri Esmonin, holds 1.60 hectares. Bruno Clair and Louis JadotLouis Jadot
Maison Louis Jadot is a wine company that produces and markets Burgundy wine. Louis Jadot operates both their own vineyards and has a négociant business...
own 1 hectare each, which was split between them from the land purchased by Domaine Clair-Dau. Domaine Fourrier holds 0.89 of a hectare that was originally purchased by the family.