• Aux Combottes is a Premier Cru vineyard known for red wine production of the Pinot Noir grape, located within the Gevrey-Chambertin Appellation d’Origine Contrôlée in the Côtes de Nuits sub-region of the Côte d’Or in Burgundy.
• Surface Area: 4.6 ha [1]
• Annual Production: 2,015 cases [2]
• Owners: 6+ [2]

• Derived from old French in which ‘-ottes’ or ‘ettes’ signifies diminutive. So, the name means “little Combe”
• Historically speaking, possible cause for being left out of delimitation of Grand Crus was the owner at the time was not from Gevrey-Chambertin. [2]

• Location: [2]
  • Lies south of Latricières-Chambetin; north of Clos de La Roche; east of Charmes/Mazoyères-Chambertin.
    • A small vertical strip which belongs to Camus is actually classified as Grand Cru Latricières-Chambertin.
  • Terroir: [2]
    • Faces east on a gentle slope below the Mont Luisants section of Clos de La Roche.
    • The vineyards situation puts in drought zone of the Combe Grisard, which is a conduit of colder air resulting in less even ripening, thus compromising quality.
      • Those who use this argument to suggest that Aux Combottes is not worthy of Grand Cru, would do well to remember that the adjacent Gevrey Grand crus are in a similar situation.
    • Soil:
      • The majority sits on the narrow band of Calcaire à Entroques, which stretches from Morey-St.-Denis to the southern edge of Gevrey-Chambertin.
      • A fault separates the Calcaire à Entroques from the Prémeaux limestone underlying the remaining area to the west.
        • The easterly limit of this band is identifiable from a small stone cabin (cabotte) next to the Route des Grand crus which marks the site of a disused Entroques quarry which provided stone for wall and house building.
      • As the underlying rock strata shows Entroques then Prémeaux, there is no credible geological argument as to why Aux Combottes should not be Grand Cru.

• Dry Red Wine from Pinot Noir.
• Expressive and quite open aromatically, with floral components and fresh mineral flavors.
• Elegant and more redolent of Chambolle-Musigny than Gevrey-Chambertin or Morey-St.-Denis in structure- red fruits rather than black fruits.
• Does not show the amplitude of its southern neighbor, rather being more restrained & brighter in feel, perhaps a shade less full.
• Ages well (5-10 years for best results) [2].

• Largest domaines by land [2]
  • Dujac (1.15 ha)
  • Pierre Amiot (.61 ha)
  • Leroy (.46 ha)
  • Arlaud Père et Fils (.45 ha)
  • Rossignol-Trapet (.14 ha)
  • Hubert Lignier (.14 ha)

• Write about the food and culture of this region as it relates to wine.

[1] Coates, Clive. Wines of Burgundy. University Presses of California, 2008.

[2] Norman, Remington. Grand Cru; The Great Wines of Burgundy Through the Perspective of Its Finest Vineyards. Sterling Publishing Co., Inc., 2011.