The Clos Rocher
ONE OF THE RARE "CLOS" IN CHAMPAGNE
THE JEWEL OF OUR HOUSE
Jean-Michel Gremillet gave the name » Clos Rocher » to this, his childhood dream, in memory of one of our ancestors. Created in 2013, there it is, this Clos Rocher, only 50 metres from the cellar, on the famous Riceys commune.It is a plot of 1,4 hectares, planted with Pinot Noir, the king grape variety of the region which, in 2020, will produce the most prestigious cuvée of our range.
ITS CADOLE
A CONVIVIAL PLACE IN THE HEART OF THE VINEYARDS
At the top of the hill is a pretty cadole, a place of peace offered to the visitor who will taste the Clos Rocher cuvée as he looks out on the vineyard that gave birth to it. “A closed space is sad. A clos is good when it is open” according to Jean-Michel, a generous winegrower whose pleasure is sharing.
Historically, Champagne and South Burgundy winegrowers removed stones from their plots and built shelters beside the vineyards. These were given the name cadole
To honour this tradition, we built a beautiful cadole, overlooking the vineyards, just a stone’s throw from the winery, for tastings and festive events.
POEM
WRITTEN BY M. LÉDÉ, CONSULTING OENOLOGIST
Jean Michel Gremillet talking to his grandson
“Look, little one,one day we’ll put a wall around this vineyard!
– Why a wall?
Because it yields such exquisite grapes and makes such good wine that I want to protect it.
– Protect it from wolves? – Is that it grandad?
– Of course not. Not wolves. There are no wolves. Not anymore.
– Then, is it to protect it from the fairies?
– No, little man, fairies will come. Birds and bees will also come. What I want is to create a beautiful setting like an oasis or the Garden of Eden.
– With Adam and Eve?
–Probably, but I think they’ve already arrived! You see, I would like to put a wall all around it, not to separate, but to bring together. The key will be in the door and anyone who wants to enter can do so. It would be an act of love, like a necklace adorning a loved one.
The Clos Rocher
ITS CREATION,
A CHILDHOOD DREAM
2013, first harvest of the Clos Rocher. A clos is rare in Champagne but there is this clos dreamed by Jean-Michel Gremillet, very close to the cellar, only 50 m away, on the maturing of the Riceys.
A plot of 1 hectare 40 planted with pinot noir, the king grape variety of the region.
« Rocher » is the name of one of our ancestors. In a village house, Jean-Michel recovered an engraved stone « This stone was laid by Charles Rocher, aged 8 years old – 1855 ».
The stone is now at the entrance of the Clos Rocher. The memory watches and protects.
But be patient, the first bottles of Clos Rocher will be sparkling in 2019.
ITS CADOLE
A FRIENDLY PLACE IN THE HEART OF THE VINEYARDS
At the top of the hill, a pretty cadole, a place of peace offered to the visitor who will taste the Clos Rocher cuvée with a view of the vineyard that gave birth to it. « A closed space is sad. A clos is good when it is open » according to Jean-Michel, a generous winegrower whose pleasure is sharing.
Historically, Cadole was the name given to the old vine huts, often made of dry stone, of the vineyards of Aube in Champagne and South Burgundy. The cadoles were built with stones removed from the vines when they were created or maintained. They were used as shelters for the winegrowers.
POEM INSPIRED BY M. LÉDÉ, CONSULTING OENOLOGIST
The narrator would be Jean Michel Gremillet:
« See – little one – one day we’ll put a wall around this vineyard!
– Why a wall?
Because it gives us such beautiful grapes and makes us such good wine…that I want to protect it.
– Protect her from wolves – say Papi?
But no, not wolves – there are no wolves, there are no more.
– So protect her from the fairies?
No – as a child, fairies will come, birds and bees will come, what I want is to make it a showcase, like an oasis or the Garden of Eden…
– With Adam and Eve?
No doubt, I think they’re already there! You see, I would like to put a wall all around it, not to separate, but to reunite… The key will be on the door and whoever wants to enter will enter. I would like a wall that is an act of love, like a necklace around the neck of the one we love.
This wall, this case, this act of love… Jean-Michel Gremillet put it around his vine, the one that gives him such beautiful grapes, and makes him such good champagne.