The Cras Rouge Monopole is a small selection of the best parcels of Pinot Noir vinified 100% whole cluster and aged for 18 months in barrel. During the reign of the Ducs de Bourgogne, the wines from Plombiers were valued more than those of Gevrey or Chambolle. With expressive, energetic wines like the Coteaux de Dijon Pinot Noir, Marc Soyard is showing that this near-forgotten terroir overlooking Dijon can still deliver incredibly delicious and memorable wines. The owl is the symbol of the city of Dijon. The famous chouette is sculpted into the chapel of Notre-Dame de Dijon. Local legend says that if you rub the owl with your left hand while making a wish it will come true.

Appellation: Bourgogne

Varietals: 100% Pinot Noir

Farming: Organic / Biodynamic

Vineyard/Terroir: The name of the vineyard is ‘En Bessey’ and the vines were orginially planted in 1999. The vineyard measures around 0.5ha (part of 4.5 ha block) on clay-limestone soil.

Vinification: Whole cluster, semi-carbonic fermentation with natural yeats.

Elevage: 15 - 18 months in oak barrels with 30% - 40% new barrels.

About the winemaker: In 2013, Marc Soyard was chosen by the City of Dijon to take over the Domaine de la Cras, which the city had recently acquired to preserve open space. Marc was given free reign to live on-site at the domaine, tend to the vineyards, and produce and sell his own wines, under the condition that he pay a yearly ‘rent’ in bottles to the city of Dijon. Originally from a non-winemaking family in the Jura, Marc worked for six years at Domaine Bizot in Vosne Romanée as chef de culture (vineyard manager), while also working in the cellar closely with Jean-Yves Bizot to learn the winemaking process. Marc has adapted the same precise hands-off, natural Winemaker : Marc Soyard Region: Burgundy Location: Plombières-lès-Dijon philosophy to Domaine de la Cras that he learned at Domaine Bizot, and has reinvigorated this overlooked terroir at the northern edge of the Côte d’Or with his incredible energy and well-balanced wines.