The Kingdom of Domaine Jacques Prieur

You may one day find yourself driving down one particular small winding vineyard road on the densely planted south-easterly slopes between the villages of Chassagne-Montrachet and Puligny-Montrachet.
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This unassuming little road forms the boundary between legendary vineyards on either side, Grand Crus above and below, the singularly most exclusive vineyard area in the world on the higher slope. Fondly referred to by many as the most expensive real estate in the wine world. It is on this mythical parcel of land that the vineyard of Le Montrachet is situated. Domaine Jacques Prieur owns 0.59 hectares of it; the specific rows identified by a rose bush planted in front of each one. From these coveted vines the Domaine Jacques Prieur Le Montrachet is made, one of the three white Grands Crus made by Martin Prieur, the grandson of the man from whom the Domaine takes its name.  

Many Monopoles

The humble and unassuming Martin Prieur also produces six red Grands Crus,  seven white Premiers Crus and eight red, from a variety of Appellations, uniquely spanning the Côte de Beaune and the Côte de Nuits.  Of the 15 Premiers Crus owned by the Domaine, the Beaune Clos de la Féguine (red and white) and the Volnay Clos des Santenots (red) are Monopoles (denoting that ownership of the entire Appellation falls to one individual Domaine).  Similarly, the only Village Appellation under the Domaine’s ownership, the Meursault Clos de Mazeray, is also a Monopole.  This means, DJP owns all of the vines within it and is, therefore, the sole producer of wine from this given Monopole.  

One Third Grands Crus (in Burgundy)

At first glance,  the 11 hectares of Pinot Noir and 10 hectares of Chardonnay owned by Domaine Jacques Prieur may seem unimpressive.  However, owning these 21 hectares translates to possessing vines from just under a third of all Burgundian Grands Crus Appellations, and to owning fifteenPremier Crus Appellations.  A veritable kingdom of vineyards, unapparelled in Burgundy.

Motto

Upon entering the cellar of Domaine Jacques Prieur, the roof beam proclaims: “LE VIN EST LE PLUS COURT CHEMIN D UN HOMME A UN AUTRE” (WINE IS THE SHORTEST WAY FROM ONE MAN TO ANOTHER).  And nowhere is it more true than here, where lasting friendships are forged over these incredible wines from over twenty Appellations.