Clos du Roy is the queen's crown of Marsannay, and many consider it the appellation's single finest terroir. The name comes from 1477, when the vineyard passed from the Dukes of Burgundy to the King of France after the defeat of Charles the Bold. When Marsannay's first Premier Crus are finally classified, Clos du Roy is universally expected to lead the list.
Sylvain Pataille's version gets royal treatment: 80 percent whole bunches, 18 months in barrel, six months in tank, bottled unfiltered. Soulful, super-ripe cassis and bramble with a savory, smoky edge.
Though the proportion will vary according to the vintage, Sylvain is firmly in the whole cluster camp. He has also been striving to eliminate the use of sulphur during vinification and aging: for most cuvées in 2013, it was only added in at a low dose during bottling.
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