Flagey-Échezeaux
A village of vines and fields on the plain, with two grands crus climbing the slope above.
- Wine village
- 27 min from Beaune
- Red wine
- 2 grands crus
€290for a half-day wine tour from Beaune, up to 4 guests
At a glance
- Appellations
- Vosne-Romanée
- Grapes
- Pinot Noir
- Name since
- 1886
Getting there
Private driver from Beaune: 27 min by road (25 km), €100 one way for the whole car.
Coming by train or plane? Transfers from stations and airports →
About Flagey-Échezeaux
Flagey-Échezeaux lies on the flat land east of the wine road, between Vougeot and Vosne-Romanée. The village is surrounded by fields, but its vineyards climb the slope to two grands crus, Échezeaux and Grands-Échezeaux. There is no Flagey appellation: its village and premier cru wines are sold as Vosne-Romanée.
The wines
Flagey's grand cru and Vosne-Romanée wines are all red, from Pinot Noir. Grands-Échezeaux sits on fairly uniform clay-limestone soils over hard limestone, on a gentle slope. Échezeaux is a mosaic of marls, scree and red silts, with deeper soils in its upper part. The wines are dark ruby, with rose, violet and fresh cherry when young, moving to musk, leather and mushroom with age. Village and premier cru wines from Flagey are labelled Vosne-Romanée.
History
For centuries Flagey was a hamlet of neighbouring Gilly, and much of the commune lies on the plain, crossed by the little river Vouge. Its finest vineyards were shaped by the monks of Cîteaux, who founded Grands-Échezeaux and Échezeaux in the 12th and 13th centuries, right beside their Clos de Vougeot. A wall still separates the grands crus from the Clos.
In 1886 a decree allowed the village, then known as Flagey-lès-Gilly, to take the name of its most famous climat and become Flagey-Échezeaux. The two grands crus were recognised on 31 July 1937. Grands-Échezeaux, about 9 hectares, lies close to the upper Clos de Vougeot. Échezeaux, about 36 hectares, is larger and more varied, running across the slope from 230 to about 300 metres.
All the grands crusÉchezeaux · Grands-Échezeaux
Well-known premiers crusLes Beaux Monts · Les Rouges · En Orveaux
What to see
Échezeaux and Grands-Échezeaux
Walk up from the wall of the Clos de Vougeot into the two grands crus, which stretch up the slope between Vougeot and Vosne-Romanée. Stay on the lanes and respect the vines.
Cîteaux Abbey
The Cistercians who created Échezeaux came from here. Founded in 1098 and still home to monks, the abbey is about 15 minutes' drive east across the plain. Its shop sells the monks' cheese.
Tips for your visit
Allow about 30 minutes. See the grands crus on foot from the Clos de Vougeot, then continue to Vosne-Romanée. Add Cîteaux Abbey if you would like a quiet hour away from the wine road.
Around here
What to combine with Flagey-Échezeaux on the same day, nearest first.
Guides about Flagey-Échezeaux
Questions
Flagey-Échezeaux is about 27 min from Beaune by road (25 km). With a private driver, the trip from Beaune starts at €100 for the whole car, up to 4 guests.
Did you know? The name Échezeaux comes from an old word for a group of houses. The grand cru probably takes its name from a small hamlet that once stood on the slope.
Sources
Flagey-Échezeaux with a private driver
Half-day wine tour from Beaune: €290 for the car, up to 4 guests