Les Ruchots, along with its neighbor La Bussiere, is the southernmost of the Morey-Saint-Denis Premier Cru climats. The vineyard has a unique mesoclimate within the appellation, and makes taut, structured wines based on Pinot Noir with earthy, animal characters.
The vineyard lies away from most of the other Morey-Saint-Denis Premier Cru climats, on the far side of the village itself. The Clos de Tart and Bonnes-Mares vineyards cover the Cote d'Or hillside above, and Les Ruchots' southern boundary is made up of the commune's border with Chambolle-Musigny.
Les Ruchots lies in a small hollow, downslope from the village. This means that the vines are protected from cold northerly winds, as well as having a sunny southerly exposure. This mesoclimate is very conducive to viticulture, and grapes reach full ripeness while still benefitting from the cooler Burgundian climate that brings taut acidity to Cote de Nuits wines.
The vineyard takes its name from the rocky soils – ruchots meaning "rocks" in the local dialect. This thin chalky clay is underlain with hard limestone, providing a challenging environment for vines. As a result of these soils, vigor and yield is lessened and so the vine's energy is spent on producing high-quality grapes. The resultant wines have concentrated flavors and robust tannins.
Les Ruchots is not uniquely named: the Ruchottes-Chambertin Grand Cru vineyard lies a little way to the north, while there is also a Premier Cru vineyard in Chassagne-Montrachet named Les Grandes Ruchottes.
