François Gerbet

History of Domaine François Gerbet

The history of Domaine François Gerbet begins in 1947, when François Gerbet, originally from the Pyrenees, settled as a winegrower in Vosne-Romanée with his wife Suzanne Sirugue, whom he had met in 1944 during the liberation of the village. Born of 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 had not been replanted following the phylloxera crisis, François Gerbet acquired from 1950 onwards superb plots at Aux Réas, ideally situated between Vosne-Romanée and Nuits-Saint-Georges. From 1965, he completed his vineyard by purchasing approximately ten hectares in the Hautes-Côtes de Nuits, at 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 charge in 1983. Under their leadership, the estate adopted a reasoned approach to viticulture, developed direct bottle sales and was enriched with prestigious plots, notably in Clos de Vougeot and Vosne-Romanée Premier Cru Les Suchots. Recognised from 1978 for the quality of their wines, the Gerbet sisters featured in the main guides (Hachette, Revue du Vin de France) and accumulated distinctions. Since 2013, Amélie Berthaut, daughter of Marie-Andrée and trained in oenology in Bordeaux, has been progressively taking over the family vines by integrating them into Domaine Berthaut-Gerbet, based in Fixin, thus ensuring the continuity of this fine Burgundian adventure.

Terroirs and Vines of Domaine François Gerbet

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

On the most coveted communes of the Côte de Nuits, the estate holds a vineyard of great quality. The vines of the lieu-dit Aux Réas, on the boundary of Nuits-Saint-Georges, benefit from an 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 Grand Crus, Echézeaux and Clos de Vougeot, which bestow upon the estate a legitimacy among the finest signatures of the Côte de Nuits. The limestone and clay-limestone soils of these plots, combined with respectful vineyard work through integrated pest management, impart to the cuvées depth, finesse and longevity.

Vinifications of Domaine François Gerbet

At Domaine François Gerbet, vinification follows the purest Burgundian tradition, with a constant pursuit of finesse rather than power. The harvests are carefully sorted, the grapes partially destemmed according to the vintage and the quality of the harvest. Fermentations take place in vats, with gentle extractions designed to preserve the aromatic delicacy of Pinot Noir. This measured approach, guided by the Gerbet sisters, gives birth to wines with a silky mouthfeel and brilliant fruit.

Ageing takes place in barrels for several months, with a reasoned use of new oak, in order to respect the expression of the terroirs and never to mask the fruit. The wood is carefully selected to support the framework of the wine without dominating it. This attentive approach to vinification, both traditional and precise, allows each cuvée of the estate — from the Bourgogne Hautes-Côtes de Nuits to the Grand Crus — to reveal its character while preserving the elegance that is the signature of the house. 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 gourmand, fruity and accessible cuvée, the estate's signature on this high-altitude terroir. Its ruby colour, its nose of fresh red fruits and its ample palate make it a convivial Pinot Noir, best enjoyed between two and six years.

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

The Bourgogne Pinot Noir, sourced from regional plots, offers a supple and fruity Pinot Noir with a fine framework. This introductory cuvée to the estate captivates with its aromatic frankness and its silky balance.

The Bourgogne Chardonnay reveals a straight and fresh white wine, marked by aromas of citrus fruits, white flowers and a mineral finish. A gourmand 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, crunchy and thirst-quenching white wine, boasting citrus and floral aromas. Ideal as an aperitif or in a kir, it reflects the expertise of the estate with this emblematic Burgundian grape variety.

The Vosne-Romanée Aux Réas, the emblematic village cuvée of the estate, is sourced from an exceptionally well-situated plot between Vosne-Romanée and Nuits-Saint-Georges. It reveals an expressive nose of redcurrant, raspberry and blackcurrant, supported by a velvety palate and melted tannins. A thoroughbred Vosne-Romanée, full of charm and capable of beautiful ageing.

The Vosne-Romanée Premier Cru Les Petits Monts, situated on the heights of the village near Richebourg, offers a Pinot Noir of great elegance. Its floral and spiced aromas, its refined 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 greatest Premiers Crus of the appellation, 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, extends with remarkable length. A great 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 commune, 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 two flagship wines of the estate. It offers a deep and aromatic Pinot Noir, blending ripe red fruits, soft spices and notes of undergrowth. Its ample and silky palate, supported by fine tannins, gives it a great ageing potential.

The Clos de Vougeot Grand Cru, the flagship of Domaine François Gerbet, expresses the full nobility of this mythical terroir. Its deep colour, its complex aromas of black fruits, liquorice and spices, together 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.