Cote de Beaune Wine: Communes, 10 Delicious Bottles To Buy (2024)

The Cote de Beaune wine district lies in the southern half of Burgundy's famous Cote d'Or region and is revered for its characterful, expensive Chardonnay wines. Named after the charming town of Beaune (the hub of wine trade in Burgundy), it also produces some of the region’s finest red wines.

In this article, we’ll explore the communes of Cote de Beaune, the different kinds of wine produced here, and the best Beaune bottles to buy in 2024.

We’ll also show you the easiest way to invest in these bottles.

Côte de Beaune at a Glance

Cote de Beaune and Cote de Nuits make up the larger region of Cote d’Or, the terroir of which is characterized by a limestone escarpment.

Cote de Beaune is named after the rolling hills of Beaune in  Burgundy, France and it literally means “the slope of Beaune.” The region is made up of several wine villages and multiple prestigious appellations.

There are two principal styles of wine created in Cote de Beaune. One is intense, buttery Chardonnay with notes of white flower and oak. Then there is Burgundian Pinot Noir with flavor notes of red berry, cherry, and spice (for example, Domaine Marquis d'Angerville Clos des Ducs.) 

Other grape varieties like Pinot Gris, Pinot Blanc, and Aligoté are also used in winemaking.

The Famed Côte de Beaune Terroir 

The slopes of Cote de Beaune offer an excellent terroir for vine growing. Côte de Beaune has a continental climate, with pleasantly warm summers and sharp, crisp winters. The rolling hillsides have the perfect exposure to the European sun, greatly benefiting the grapes. 

The danger of Cote de Beaune is the cold spell during springtime when the vines are fragile and delicate. If the winemakers aren’t careful, the frost can destroy the grapes. To prevent this, some wineries use helicopters to simulate air movement, which prevents the frost from settling.

Côte de Beaune Communes 

Cote de Beaune has 8 Grands Crus

• Corton Charlemagne
• Charlemagne
• Corton
• Montrachet
• Bâtard-Montrachet
• Chevalier-Montrachet
• Bienvenues-Bâtard-Montrachet
• Criots-Bâtard-Montrachet

It also has 42 climats that are classified as Premier Cru vineyards.

Let’s go through each of the Cote de Beaune communes and the region’s classification system.

Northern Communes

• Beaune: The majority of Burgundy’s wine negociants are in Beaune, and the area is reputed to be the ‘Capital of Burgundy Wine.’ The historic Hospices de Beaune wine auction is hosted here every year. 
• Pommard: The Pommard AOC has multiple Premier Cru vineyards.Under the Cote de Beaune appellation regulations, only red wine grapes are grown, and the principal grape is Pinot Noir. 
• Volnay: Volnay is a village appellation with 29 premier cru climats. Volnay produces only Pinot Noir red wine. However, there is one premier cru vineyard, Volnay Santenots, that lies between Volnay and Meursault. The white wines produced in this vineyard are labeled as Meursault and the red wine as Volnay. 
• Aloxe-Corton: Aloxe-Corton is an AOC with two grand cru vineyards - Corton, which produces primarily red wine, and Corton Charlemagne, which makes exclusively white wine. 
• Saint Romain: The vineyards in Saint Romain are planted on hilly terrain. Like most of Burgundy, Pinot Noir and Chardonnay are the principal grape varieties. 
• Pernand-Vergelesses: This AOC has multiple premier cru and grand cru vineyards. The grand cru vineyard Corton and Corton Charlemagne also cross over into this appellation from Aloxe-Corton. 
• Ladoix-Serrigny: Ladoix shares grand cru and premier cru vineyards with Pernand-Vergelesses and Aloxe-Corton. However, these vineyards are labeled as their own AOCs or as Aloxe-Corton AOCs. 
• Savigny-lès-Beaune: This appellation  has  22 premier cru vineyards and produces 85% red wine and 15% white wine. 
• Auxey-Duresses: This Burgundy commune was only given AOC status in 1970. Wine produced from this commune is sold either under the Auxey-Duresses AOC or under the broader Cote de Beaune-Villages AOC.
• Chorey-lès-Beaune: Both red wine and white wine are produced in this commune. White wine makes up only 10% of the production. The AOC regulations allow both Chardonnay and Pinot Blanc to be used for white wines.

Southern Communes

• Chassagne-Montrachet: This appellation produces 75% white wine, and 25% red wine. Chassagne-Montrachet has three grand cru vineyards -  Montrachet, Criots-Bâtard-Montrachet and  Bâtard-Montrachet - as well as 48 premiers crus. 
• Meursault: Meursault occupies the base of the Côte d'Or escarpment. The main wine produced in Meursault is an oaky and smooth Chardonnay. Meursault has multiple premier cru vineyards. Some of the Meursault climats are shared between Volnay and Blagny. 
• Santenay: The Santenay AOC boasts an impressive 12 premier cru vineyards. Under appellation guidelines, the vineyards can produce both red and white wine. The area has climats at both premier cru and village level. 
• Les Maranges: The Les Maranges AOC is made up of three smaller communes - Dezize-les-Maranges, Sampigny-les-Maranges, and Cheilly-les-Maranges. Les Maranges produces both red and white wine and has seven premier cru vineyards.
• Blagny: Blagny is an AOC that is technically a part of Puligny Montrachet and Meursault. Wines created here can be labeled as Puligny Montrachet, Meursault, or as a village-level wine. 
• Saint Aubin: St Aubin produces both white wine and red wine. Saint Aubin has 20 climats that are classified as premier cru vineyards, as well as village-level wines.
• Puligny Montrachet: White wine makes up 95% of the wine produced in Puligny Montrachet. The AOC is known to be one of the best in Burgundy, and contains four grand cru vineyards - Bienvenues-Bâtard-Montrachet, Chevalier-Montrachet, Bâtard-Montrachet, and le Montrachet. Puligny Montrachet also has 19 premier cru vineyards. 

Côte de Beaune Wine Classification

Here’s what the wines are classified into above the basic Bourgogne AOC:

• Côte de Beaune-Villages: The Côte de Beaune-Villages is a communal appellation that doesn’t make wines of the premier cru quality. Usually the wine bottle will include Côte de Beaune-Villages and then the village name, such as “Côte de Beaune-Villages Monthélie”.
• Hautes-Côtes de Beaune: This is the hilly area on the west side of the Beaune region.
• Côte de Beaune: This is the designation given to a few vineyards on a hill above the Beaune district.
• Premier Cru: The premier cru classification is given to vineyards that are high quality and meet specific appellation regulations. 

Grand Cru: The grand cru classification is given only to the very best vineyard sites in the region and has regulations about the grape variety, the vine, and more. Most grand cru wines taste exceptional and can cellar for many years.

Best Cote de Beaune Wine to Buy in 2024 (Including Tasting Notes, Prices)

We’ve picked out the very best wines made in the Cote de Beaune region. 

1. Domaine Leflaive Montrachet Grand Cru, Cote de Beaune, France, 2010

This Chardonnay is dry and buttery. It’s a long-lasting white wine that tastes fresh and light, with a palate of citrus fruit and oak. Pair this white Burgundy with oysters. 

Price of Domaine Leflaive Montrachet Grand Cru, Cote de Beaune, France, 2010: $13,726

2. Leroy Domaine d'Auvenay Chevalier-Montrachet Grand Cru, Cote de Beaune, France, 2007

Here we have a Beaune wine made by the esteemed winemaker d’Auvenay. It has an aroma of peaches and tasting notes of pineapple and marmalade. This white wine is well balanced with a long finish. Pair this Burgundy white wine with a charcuterie board.

Price of Leroy Domaine d'Auvenay Chevalier-Montrachet Grand Cru, Cote de Beaune, France, 2007: $12,549

3. Leroy Domaine d'Auvenay Bâtard-Montrachet Grand Cru, Cote de Beaune, France, 2014

Only 182 bottles of this wine are produced each year at this winery. It is an exclusive Burgundy Chardonnay with a palate of tangerines. The wine has a long finish with a hint of an oak tasting note. While fresh and young now, this white wine can be kept in your cellar for decades. 

Price of Leroy Domaine d'Auvenay Bâtard-Montrachet Grand Cru, Cote de Beaune, France, 2014: $9,367

4. Domaine de la Romanée-Conti Montrachet Grand Cru, Cote de Beaune, France, 2010

This Cote d’Or wine from the Burgundy wine region is powerful and dry with well-balanced tannin levels and crisp acidity. On the palate, there are flavor notes of honey and spice. Pair this Beaune wine with a creamy pasta dish. 

Price of Domaine de la Romanée-Conti Montrachet Grand Cru, Cote de Beaune, France, 2010: $10,569

5. Coche-Dury Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru, Cote de Beaune, France, 2014

Here we have a Burgundy white wine that has delicate white flower and vanilla tasting notes. This wine is round, supple, and smooth with extraordinary length. 

Price of Coche-Dury Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru, Cote de Beaune, France, 2014: $6,210

6. Domaine Leroy Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru, Cote de Beaune, France, 2011

This white Burgundy is intense with an aroma of lemon preserve. It has gentle tannin levels combined with sharp acidity. It is smooth on the palate. Pair this Chardonnay with smoked salmon.

Price of Domaine Leroy Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru, Cote de Beaune, France, 2011: $6,332

7. Domaine Leroy Corton-Renardes Grand Cru, Cote de Beaune, France, 2013

Here we have a red Burgundy made from the Pinot Noir grape. This red wine has flavor notes of red fruit, cherry, spice, and red berry. On the palate, it is smooth and sweet with endless length. Pair this red Burgundy with a game dish.

Price of Domaine Leroy Corton-Renardes Grand Cru, Cote de Beaune, France, 2013: $6912

8. Leroy Domaine d'Auvenay Les Folatieres, Puligny Montrachet Premier Cru, France, 2009

From the d’Auvenay winery, this white Burgundy wine made from the Chardonnay grape variety has an aroma of white flower, tangerine, and honey. It is acidic while maintaining a buttery palate and ripe tannin levels. Pair this Beaune wine with a shellfish dish.

Price of Leroy Domaine d'Auvenay Les Folatieres, Puligny Montrachet Premier Cru, France, 2009: $5,089

9. Domaine Ramonet Montrachet Grand Cru, Cote de Beaune, France, 2016

This Burgundy white wine is dry with flavor notes of honey and citrus fruit and the aroma of a white flower. It is well-balanced with sharp acidity and a lasting finish. Pair this white Burgundy with a cheeseboard.

Price of Domaine Ramonet Montrachet Grand Cru, Cote de Beaune, France, 2016: $3,689

10. Leroy Domaine d'Auvenay Meursault Les Narvaux, Côte de Beaune, France, 2009

Here we have a phenomenal Beaune wine made from the Chardonnay grape variety with a palate of honey, spice, and pear. It is bold and elegant with a complex nose and a well-rounded structure. 

Price of Leroy Domaine d'Auvenay Meursault Les Narvaux, Côte de Beaune, France, 2009: $3,516

Now let’s see why Cote de Beaune wines are great for long-term investing as well.

Should you Invest in Cote de Beaune Wines?

The Chardonnay and Pinot Noir wines of Cote de Beaune can cellar well for years. They’re a favorite among critics, and enjoy steady price appreciation as well.

The 1997 vintage of Domaine Leflaive Montrachet Grand Cru grew from $8,366 in 2019 to $14,047 in 2021. That is a 68% increase.

The 2001 vintage of Domaine Leroy Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru went from $3,186 in 2020 to $7,539 in 2021 - an impressive 137% growth.

Check out these impressive auction results for Beaune wines. At a 2020 Christies auction in Hong Kong, five bottles of Domaine de la Romanée-Conti, Montrachet 2000 sold for an astonishing $51,500. In 2017, at a Christies auction in New York, twelve bottles of Coche-Dury from Corton-Charlemagne, sold for $36,750.

But investing in wine can be tricky, which is why you should enlist professional help from wine investment companies like Vinovest.

Invest in Cote de Beaune and Other Fine Wines with Vinovest

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A Cote de Beaune Gem For Your Cellar!

The rolling hills of Cote d’Or and Cote de Beaune are home to the best bottles of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir in the world. Most of these wines can be kept in your cellar for ages while they appreciate in value.

With Vinovest, you can easily invest in the region's most exquisite wines.

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