Clos des Porrets-Saint-Georges (often spelled Poirets-Saint-Georges) is a small enclave of the larger Les Porrets-Saint-Georges Premier Cru site in Nuits-Saint-Georges. This vineyard, a monopole of Henri Gouges, is somewhat of a curiosity within the Cote de Nuits subregion of Burgundy: it is planted to both Pinot Noir and an extremely rare, light-skinned mutation of Pinot Noir. Consequently, Clos des Porrets-Saint-Georges wines can be either red or white.
The vineyard's position on the slope gives it an excellent terroir, as both the soil types found here and the aspect of the vineyard ultimately have a considerable effect on the quality of the wine. A southeast exposure means that vines are in the sunlight for a considerable portion of the day, and so benefit from a warm mesoclimate. This means grapes have sufficient time to reach optimum ripeness prior to harvest, while still retaining vital acidity.
Clos de Porrets has deep, stony soils with a good amount of clay, covering a hard, limestone base. This soil is excellent for viticulture as it allows for plentiful drainage, ensuring that there is not an excess of water in the soil. Canopy growth is limited, channeling energy into grape production instead, and root systems can grow deeply into the soil to access water and minerals. The quarry on the hillside above the site betrays the limestone substrata on this part of the Cote d'Or.
The name Clos de Porrets is possibly a throwback to a time when pear trees were found planted on the slopes – known in French as poiriers.
