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of Maranges wines
Le Clos des Rois
Surface area of the locality: 7 ha 17 a 39 ca
To the south of the Les Maranges premier cru hillside, the Le Clos des Rois locality extends from 258 to 288 metres in altitude (average 274 m). The slopes are gentle (3%) to very steep (17%) (average 8%). The Climat has a South, Southwest exposure.
The soil and subsoil
The subsoil of the Clos des Rois is made up of three different substrates.
The gryphaea limestone is regularly visible as an outcrop in favour of ancient small quarries in the upper part of the locality. Significant variations of the dipping of this formation are to be correlated with the presence of cliffs.
The transgressive characteristics (clay and limestone) are not very visible in the lowest half.
The southernmost point of the Clos des Rois rests on wine-coloured and Trias-green dolomitic clay.
The Clos des Rois soil is clay loam, yellow-brown, with stones and frequent chert.
The origin of the name
The term “clos” derived from the Latin “clausus” (closed) is frequently encountered in wine toponyms. It is a reference to the boundaries of the plot or wall surroundings.
Rois does not refer to royal owners, but it is a matter of confusion with roie, ancient form of raie, from the Gallic rica “furrow” (cf. Les Jeunes Rois in Brochon, Les Longeroies in Marsannay).
In the ancient language enroier “enrayer” signifies “begin to plough, mark the first furrow”.
The wines
Hidden behind a cardinal colour it charms with its fresh cherry aroma. Tender and full-bodied it is often at its peak between three and five years in the bottle but is only waiting to hinder the rule…
