Marsannay-la-Côte

Just south of Dijon, Marsannay-la-Côte gives its name to the northernmost Village appellation of the Côte de Nuits, its “golden gateway” according to the appellation rules. The appellation, called simply Marsannay, also includes Chenôve and Couchey and is the only one at its level in Burgundy permitted in three colors: red, white, and rosé.

The vines are documented from the seventh century. At Chenôve the Dukes of Burgundy had an estate that later passed to the Kings of France, hence the name Clos du Roy; the two ducal presses have been a listed historic monument since 1934. In the nineteenth century the growth of Dijon steered the vineyards toward Gamay and everyday wine; the return to fine wines began in the 1930s, and in the 1960s Pinot Noir rosé made Marsannay's name. The appellation dates from the decree of May 19, 1987.

The vineyards climb from 255 to 390 meters, facing from east to south, on Jurassic limestones and marls. On the limestone gravels at the mouths of the combes, the wines show immediate fruit and a supple texture; on the slope, where the soil is thin and clayey, Pinot Noir gains color, structure, and staying power. Red prevails; the whites come from Chardonnay and Pinot Blanc.

There are no Grands Crus and, for now, no Premiers Crus, but the label may state the climat of origin. Growers have put forward 14 of them for Premier Cru status, from the Clos du Roy in the north to the Champs Perdrix in the south; between July and September 2026 the INAO held a public consultation on the proposed Premier Cru delimitation.