Is 1er Cru part of the name of a particular vineyard please? For example if you have a wine named 1er Cru Les Suchots, is this the vineyard name or is the vineyard just called Les Suchots? Thanks!
Answer From Expert Roger Bohmrich MW
Your question speaks to the official regulatory hierarchy in Burgundy, where Vosne-Romanée Les Suchots is located. The laws in question are part of the system known in short as AOC, or Appellation d’Origine Contrôlée, signifying a controlled appellation of origin. The word "Contrôlée" has now been changed to "Protégée" or Protected although the meaning and requirements have not been altered. There are currently 84 appellations in Burgundy, where the AOC structure is usually depicted as a pyramid. The large base of the pyramid is composed of regional appellations - by far the largest volume - while so-called village wines make up the next level. At the top are the two appellations which together constitute merely 11-13% of production: premier cru (abbreviated in French as 1er Cru) and grand cru. Les Suchots is one example of a delimited vineyard which enjoys premier cru status. On the label of wines from this vineyard or any other of the same level from this village, the stated appellation is typically Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru Contrôlée. Hence 1er Cru is not, technically, part of the vineyard name. I hope this is clear as the nuances of Burgundy can be challenging.
