François Gerbet

History of Domaine François Gerbet

The story of Domaine François Gerbet begins in 1947, when François Gerbet, originally from the Pyrenees, settled as a winemaker in Vosne-Romanée with his wife Suzanne Sirugue, whom he met in 1944 during the liberation of the village. Born from an encounter between two worlds, the family adventure was built around a few inherited vines and a determination to establish a lasting estate. Taking advantage of the post-war period, during which many plots of land had not been replanted following the phylloxera crisis, François Gerbet acquired, from 1950 onwards, superb parcels at Les Réas, ideally situated between Vosne-Romanée and Nuits-Saint-Georges. From 1965, he expanded his vineyard by purchasing approximately ten hectares in the Hautes-Côtes de Nuits, in Concœur, a hamlet of Nuits-Saint-Georges.

From 1972, two of his three daughters, Marie-Andrée and Chantal Gerbet, joined the estate, before taking sole control in 1983. Under their leadership, the estate adopted sustainable viticulture, developed bottle sales and was enriched with prestigious parcels, notably in Clos de Vougeot and Vosne-Romanée Premier Cru Les Suchots. Recognised from 1978 for the quality of their wines, the Gerbet sisters have featured in the leading guides (Hachette, Revue du Vin de France) and have collected numerous distinctions. Since 2013, Amélie Berthaut, Marie-Andrée's daughter and trained in oenology in Bordeaux, has progressively taken over the family vines by integrating them into Domaine Berthaut-Gerbet, based in Fixin, thus ensuring the continuity of this wonderful Burgundian adventure.

Terroirs and Vines of Domaine François Gerbet

The Domaine François Gerbet vineyard covers approximately twelve hectares, elegantly divided between the Hautes-Côtes de Nuits and the prestigious heart of the Côte de Nuits. On the Hautes-Côtes, the estate cultivates a large parcel planted with Pinot Noir and Chardonnay on high-altitude clay-limestone soils, offering freshness and aromatic tension. This regional foundation, the fruit of François Gerbet's patient work from 1965 onwards, allows the estate to offer accessible and expressive cuvées that are perfectly representative of this high-altitude terroir.

Across the most sought-after villages of the Côte de Nuits, the estate holds a high-quality parcel selection. The vines at the lieu-dit Aux Réas, on the border of Nuits-Saint-Georges, benefit from exceptional exposure. Three Premiers Crus complete this mosaic: Vosne-Romanée Les Petits Monts and Les Suchots, as well as Chambolle-Musigny Les Plantes, a Premier Cru of great elegance. The pinnacle of the pyramid is represented by two emblematic Grands Crus, Echézeaux and Clos de Vougeot, which lend the estate a standing among the finest names of the Côte de Nuits. The limestone and clay-limestone soils of these parcels, combined with respectful, sustainably managed viticulture, bestow depth, finesse and longevity upon the cuvées.

Winemaking at Domaine François Gerbet

At Domaine François Gerbet, winemaking is rooted in the purest Burgundian tradition, with a constant pursuit of finesse over power. The harvests are carefully sorted, the grapes partially destemmed according to the vintage and the quality of the crop. Fermentations take place in vats, with gentle extractions designed to preserve the aromatic delicacy of the Pinot Noir. This measured approach, guided by the Gerbet sisters, gives rise to wines with a silky mouthfeel and vibrant fruit.

Ageing takes place in barrels for several months, with a measured use of new oak, so as to respect the expression of the terroirs and never mask the fruit. The wood is carefully selected to support the structure of the wine without dominating it. This attentive winemaking approach, both traditional and precise, allows every cuvée from the estate — from the Bourgogne Hautes-Côtes de Nuits to the Grands Crus — to reveal its character while retaining the elegance that defines the house's signature. The wines are distinguished by their balance, their freshness and their ability to evolve harmoniously in the bottle.

The cuvées of Domaine François Gerbet

The Bourgogne Hautes-Côtes de Nuits Rouge offers a generous, fruity and accessible cuvée — a signature of the estate on this high-altitude terroir. Its ruby colour, nose of fresh red fruits and ample palate make it a convivial Pinot Noir, ideally enjoyed between two and six years.

The Bourgogne Hautes-Côtes de Nuits Blanc, crafted from Chardonnay grown on the hillsides of Concœur, stands out for its freshness, notes of white flowers and tender-fleshed fruits, supported by fine vivacity. A precise and elegant cuvée, perfect as an aperitif as well as with seafood dishes.

The Bourgogne Pinot Noir, sourced from regional parcels, offers a supple and fruity Pinot Noir with a fine structure. This introductory cuvée to the estate charms with its aromatic openness and silky balance.

The Bourgogne Chardonnay reveals a straight and fresh white wine, marked by aromas of citrus, white flowers and a mineral finish. A delightful cuvée that expresses the purity of Burgundian Chardonnay in an accessible style.

The Bourgogne Aligoté brings a note of freshness to the range, with a lively, crisp and refreshing white wine, offering citrus and floral aromas. Ideal as an aperitif or in a kir, it showcases the estate's expertise with this emblematic Burgundy grape variety.

The Vosne-Romanée Aux Réas, the estate's emblematic village cuvée, comes from an exceptionally well-situated parcel between Vosne-Romanée and Nuits-Saint-Georges. It reveals an expressive nose of redcurrant, raspberry and blackcurrant, supported by a velvety palate and silky tannins. A distinguished Vosne-Romanée, full of charm and capable of ageing beautifully.

The Vosne-Romanée Premier Cru Les Petits Monts, located on the heights of the village close to Richebourg, offers a Pinot Noir of great elegance. Its floral and spiced aromas, its fine and chiselled palate and its persistent finish make it a highly sought-after cuvée among enthusiasts.

The Vosne-Romanée Premier Cru Les Suchots, sourced from one of the appellation's greatest Premiers Crus, offers a deep and complex wine. Its nose of red and black fruits is enriched with notes of humus and undergrowth, while the palate, dense and silky, lingers with remarkable length. A great fine wine for ageing, particularly accomplished in the finest vintages.

The Chambolle-Musigny Premier Cru Les Plantes, the estate's only Premier Cru on the neighbouring village, captivates with its finesse and delicacy. Floral, elegant and of beautiful fruit purity, it brilliantly embodies the refined character of Chambolle-Musigny.

The Echézeaux Grand Cru is one of the estate's two flagship wines. It delivers a deep and aromatic Pinot Noir, blending ripe red fruits, gentle spices and notes of undergrowth. Its ample and silky palate, underpinned by fine tannins, gives it exceptional ageing potential.

The Clos de Vougeot Grand Cru, the crown jewel of Domaine François Gerbet, expresses the full nobility of this mythical terroir. Its deep colour, complex aromas of black fruits, liquorice and spices, along with its dense and structured palate, herald a wine of very long ageing potential, capable of gaining in complexity and harmony over the years spent in the cellar.