Monthélie

Monthélie is a village appellation of the Côte de Beaune in Burgundy’s Côte d’Or, recognised as an AOC in 1937. It sits tucked between Volnay to the north-east, Meursault to the south and Auxey-Duresses to the west, and ranks among the smallest village appellations of the Côte de Beaune. Production is predominantly red wine from Pinot Noir, complemented by a growing share of white wine from Chardonnay. The appellation comprises 15 Premier Cru climats, but no Grands Crus, and covers roughly 120 to 130 hectares of vineyard.

The village itself is worth the detour: its centre, with old houses and cellars, sits picturesquely on a bend in the slope. Most travellers, however, only see the more modern houses along the D973 above Meursault. As for the name, a typically Burgundian inconsistency applies: the appellation now carries the accent — Monthélie —, but France’s official IGN maps do not. In conversation the village is pronounced without the accent, „Mont’lie”, and among winegrowers and locals there is a distinctly anti-accent camp.

Geography and Vineyard Structure

In terms of terrain, the appellation divides into two main areas, often described as a horseshoe and a saddle. The horseshoe begins at the village itself, retreats up the Combe Danay towards Nantoux, and then swings round towards Auxey-Duresses. The saddle is formed by the terrain that wraps around the hillside from Volnay before dropping down towards Monthélie.

Almost all the original Premier Cru sites lie on the slope to the north and east of the village — effectively a continuation of Volnay’s renowned Clos des Chênes, though at a somewhat higher elevation. The exception is Les Duresses, which continues under the same name into Auxey-Duresses. It is regarded as the appellation’s best Premier Cru, with a very steep, east-facing slope. The neighbouring Les Clous has also since been elevated to Premier Cru. The valley below is home to most of the village-level sites; within this sheltered space it can get very warm, even though the vines do not see the early morning sun.

Premier Cru Sites

Monthélie has 15 climats classified as Premier Cru. The number was raised from eleven to fifteen in 2006, when Les Clous, Le Clos des Toisières, Le Clou des Chênes and La Barbière were promoted from village status. Nine of the Premiers Crus lie east of the village, as an extension of Volnay’s Clos des Chênes.

Among the best-known sites are:

• Les Duresses – the only Premier Cru on the western edge, continuing into Auxey-Duresses
• Les Champs Fulliots – at a good 8 hectares, the largest Premier Cru of the appellation
• Sur la Velle, Le Meix Bataille, Les Vignes Rondes, Le Cas Rougeot, Le Clou des Chênes – sites on the eastern slope
• Le Clos Gauthey – until 2006 the only Premier Cru site classed as a Clos
• Le Clos des Toisières – a monopole, elevated to Premier Cru in 2006, owned by the Meusnier family and farmed by the Beaune négociant house Maison Louis Latour; roughly two-thirds planted with Pinot Noir, the remainder with Chardonnay

Terroir and Soils

The south- and south-east-facing vineyards sit at an altitude of around 300 metres. On the Volnay side, the vines grow on pebbly Bathonian limestone, overlaid with red clay and marl. On the Auxey-Duresses side, the bedrock shifts to Argovian limestone, with easterly or westerly exposures depending on the lie of the land. These predominantly pale, lightly calcareous soils particularly favour red wine.

Style and Flavour Profile

The red wines of Monthélie combine some of the charm of Volnay with a touch of the firmer structure of Auxey-Duresses. Climate warming is lending the wines of both villages increasing grace. Typical is a bright ruby colour with aromas of small red and black fruits — cherry, redcurrant — along with floral notes of violet and peony, which develop into undergrowth, fern and spice with age. The tannins are fine, the structure firm yet velvety, which often makes the wines comparable to Volnay in their elegance.

Only a few wines, even from the Premier Cru sites, possess the layered depth that grows into complex bottles with age. Honourable exceptions aside, the best strategy is to enjoy the wines young, while their bright red-fruit character is at the fore. The white wines show a fuller, softer style reminiscent of Meursault, carried by good acidity.

White Wine on the Rise

Chardonnay currently grows on around 15 per cent of the vineyard area, but the trend towards more white wine in the appellation is gathering pace. The most obvious sites for this lie high up on the east-facing slopes. Anyone who finds the rarer white Monthélie discovers wines of full, opulent character with citrus aromas — good value in the shadow of neighbouring Meursault.

Market Prices and Buying Guide

Monthélie is regarded as one of the underrated appellations of the Côte de Beaune, offering attractive value as a result. The wines are priced noticeably below those of the celebrated neighbours Volnay and Meursault, yet benefit from comparable terroir and careful winemaking. For those starting out, a village-level red from a good producer is a fine choice; anyone seeking more depth should reach for a Premier Cru such as Les Duresses or Les Champs Fulliots. The rare white wines are a rewarding discovery for lovers of the Meursault style at a more moderate price.

Notable Producers

• Domaine de Suremain (Éric de Suremain) – based at the Château de Monthélie
• Domaine Monthélie-Douhairet-Porcheret – a long-established address in the village
• Domaine Paul Garaudet and Domaine Florent Garaudet – established family estates
• Domaine Denis Boussey and Domaine Alain Billard – reliable names of the appellation
• In addition, renowned houses from neighbouring villages, such as Maison Louis Latour, produce Monthélie wines

FAQ – Frequently Asked Questions about Monthélie

Where is Monthélie?

Monthélie is a village appellation of the Côte de Beaune in Burgundy’s Côte d’Or département. It lies between Volnay, Meursault and Auxey-Duresses and ranks among the smallest village appellations of the Côte de Beaune.

What are Monthélie’s neighbouring villages?

Monthélie borders Volnay to the north-east, Meursault to the south and Auxey-Duresses to the west. The Premier Cru site Les Duresses continues under the same name into Auxey-Duresses.

How many Premier Cru sites does Monthélie have?

The appellation comprises 15 Premier Cru climats. The number was raised from eleven to fifteen in 2006. There are no Grands Crus in Monthélie.

What wines does Monthélie produce?

Predominantly red wine from Pinot Noir, complemented by a growing share of white wine from Chardonnay. Chardonnay currently grows on around 15 per cent of the area, with an upward trend.

What does a red Monthélie taste like?

Red Monthélie shows a bright ruby colour, aromas of red and black fruits, and floral notes. The tannins are fine, the structure firm and velvety — stylistically somewhere between the elegance of Volnay and the firmer character of Auxey-Duresses.

Is Monthélie spelt with or without an accent?

Both are in common use. The appellation name today carries the accent, but France’s official IGN maps do not. Locally, the village is pronounced without the accent, as „Mont’lie”.

What is the Clos des Toisières?

The Clos des Toisières is a monopole in Monthélie that was elevated to Premier Cru in 2006. It is owned by the Meusnier family and farmed by the Beaune négociant house Maison Louis Latour.

Which vintages suit Monthélie?

As the wines are predominantly drunk young, younger, well-ripened vintages are usually ideal. The red wines benefit from climate warming through greater ripeness and grace; strong Côte de Beaune vintages such as 2015, 2019 and 2020 are considered reliable here too.

Is Monthélie good value?

Yes. Monthélie ranks among the underrated appellations of the Côte de Beaune, offering carefully made wines at noticeably lower prices than the celebrated neighbours Volnay and Meursault.