Clos de la Commaraine: A Burgundian precision project
There are places which, when rediscovered, reignite one’s passion for wine. Clos de la Commaraine in Pommard is one such treasure — after years of silence, it now shines anew in a different light.
In certain places in the world, wine is not simply the result of fermentation — it is an intimate reflection of the land, the people, and their history. Clos de la Commaraine, in the heart of Pommard, is one of these sacred sites in Burgundy. A walled monopole since the 12th century, covering 3.75 hectares, where past and future are intertwined in a story of renaissance and beauty.
A History Dating Back to the 12th Century
Located in the heart of Burgundy, Clos de la Commaraine is a 3.75-hectare monopole classified as Premier Cru. With roots going back to the 12th century, this vineyard was for centuries one of the region’s most prestigious. In 1759, its wine was valued on par with Romanée, and in 1787, Thomas Jefferson named it among his favourites during his visit to Burgundy.
The Discreet and Determining Mentorship of Louis-Michel Liger-Belair
Since the beginning, the project has counted on the mentorship of Louis-Michel Liger-Belair, an absolute reference in Vosne-Romanée. His philosophy of minimal intervention, absolute respect for place, and wines of tactile elegance clearly influences the new style now emerging in Pommard.
Terroir and the new face of Pommard
Located on Pommard’s northern slope, Clos de la Commaraine has clay and limestone soils tinged with iron oxides. This composition gives the wines distinct elegance, supple tannins, and remarkable freshness. The vineyard, now divided into specific plots, is vinified parcel by parcel to capture the singularity of each micro-terroir.
Paul Krug: Geology, Intuition and Wines with Precision
Behind the renewal of Clos de la Commaraine is Paul Krug — a winemaker with roots in Champagne and a unique vision of terroir. His background combines scientific rigour in geology with the enological finesse he developed at two of the world’s most respected names in wine:
• Pedro Parra, Chile’s “master of terroir,” with whom Paul worked on detailed geological analysis of some of the world’s greatest vineyards — a school that values understanding vineyards down to the centimetre, identifying patterns in minerals, drainage, root depth, and varietal expression shaped by geology.
• Domaine du Comte Liger-Belair in Vosne-Romanée, where Paul developed a fine understanding of precision winemaking, Burgundian elegance, and respectful work with fruit.
Today, as technical director of Clos de la Commaraine, Paul applies an almost surgical approach to viticulture: each block of the Clos is treated as a distinct microcosm. Every soil profile found in these mere 3.75 hectares calls for specific decisions. Nothing is standardised — everything is personalised, carefully considered in every detail.
The Clos’s 3.75 hectares have been meticulously mapped by Parra and Krug, identifying each micro-sector’s uniqueness. Each plot follows its own specific protocol:
• In poorer soil areas, horses are used for vineyard work to avoid compaction.
• Cover crops are sown by hand with natural organic compost made from poultry manure.
• Harvest is conducted in multiple passes, respecting each block’s pace of ripening — because the micro-terroirs of La Commaraine are highly diverse and reach optimal maturity at different times.
• Pruning, picking, and interventions follow the rhythm of the vineyard and the climate — a model of living viticulture.
The result is a living mosaic, where each bunch has its time, its care, its expression.
The aim is not to intervene, but to understand — and let the Clos speak in its own voice.
The goal is not to intervene, but rather to understand — and let Clos speak with his own voice.
You 3.75 hectares were mapped by Parra and Krug and are worked individually and meticulously by sectors, as we can see in the video below.
In areas of the Clos where soil fertility is lower, work is done with horses, respecting the delicate nature of the soil. To avoid excessive compaction, manure is sown by hand — an organic compound made from poultry manure.
Biodynamics with Intention
Commaraine follows structured biodynamic practices, including treatments like Preparation 500, which promotes microbial life in the soil and encourages deeper root systems. Sheep graze among the vines, while herbal teas and interventions follow the lunar calendar, fostering a natural balance in the ecosystem.
None of this is for trend’s sake — it is because this terroir demands attentive listening, not control.
A new style for an old place
Clos de la Commaraine Monopole 1er Cru reveals a Pinot Noir of refined tannins, mineral freshness, and subtle juiciness. The iron-tinged clay-limestone soils bring structure and tension, while Burgundian savoir-faire lends delicacy.
It is Pommard — as it has never been tasted before.
Other Extraordinary Cuvées from the Domaine
NUITS SAINT GEORGES 1ER CRU RONCIÈRE 2022
Located in the middle of a southeast-facing slope, this climat is based on poor, stony clay-limestone soil with iron oxides. The wine has a fine tannic structure, classic delicacy and a contained energy.
Fermentation without stems + 15 months in French oak (100% second use).
NUITS SAINT GEORGES 1ER CRU AUX BOUSSELOTS 2022
Slightly sandy soil with fine clays, giving rise to a more aromatic and linear, with elegant texture.
Fermentation without stems + 15 months in French oak (100% second use).
CHAMBOLLE-MUSIGNY LES CONDEMENNES 2022
Neighboring « Les Charmes » and « Les Amoureuses », this unique climat owes its name to the medieval term condominium. Fine clay soils with a layer of very draining limestone gravel.
In the mouth: silky, deep, juicy, with delicate tannins and enormous finesse.
See all wines at: Commaraine Estate
