Camille Thiriet

History of Domaine Camille Thiriet

The story of Domaine Camille Thiriet begins like a wonderful human adventure, born of an encounter and a shared dream. Camille Thiriet, a Burgundian by adoption with a passion for aromas — she had initially dreamed of becoming a perfumer's nose — and Matt Chittick, a Canadian oenologist of great precision, crossed paths at the Domaine de Bellene, where Matt served as cellar master between 2011 and 2014, and Camille as sales manager from 2014. This experience within a house working across more than 75 appellations gave them an intimate knowledge of the terroirs of the Côte-d'Or and a solid network of trusted winegrowers.

In 2016, they took the plunge. In a 20 m² garage located behind the family home in Comblanchien, without running water or electricity, they produced their first vintage under near-medieval conditions: pump-overs by bucket, foot treading, pressing in an old ratchet press, indigenous yeasts, without any inputs whatsoever. Labelling and waxing of the bottles by hand. Only 2,000 bottles came out of that first harvest, but their quality was already noticed.

In 2021, Camille and Matt acquired their first vines of their own: 0.80 hectares of Côte de Nuits-Villages on the lieu-dit "Le Clos Magny" in Corgoloin. The following year, in 2022, they took over Domaine Gilles Jourdan, adding 4.5 additional hectares in the same village. Maison Camille Thiriet officially became Domaine Camille Thiriet, marking a new decisive step in this wonderful winemaking adventure.

Terroirs and Vines of Domaine Camille Thiriet

Domaine Camille Thiriet is located in Corgoloin, a village situated at the southern tip of the Côte de Nuits, between Nuits-Saint-Georges and Ladoix-Serrigny. This area, still too little known among enthusiasts, nonetheless harbours terroirs of remarkable richness, carved from the hard limestones of the Upper Bathonian. The hillsides here are gentle, with soils that evolve according to altitude: at the top of the slope, light brown soils with little limestone; mid-slope, stonier soils; and at the foot of the slope, deeper and accumulated clay-limestones.

The domaine's 6 hectares, spread across several plots in Corgoloin and Comblanchien, form a true mosaic of terroirs. Some plots have barely 20 cm of soil before the bedrock, giving the wines an exceptional natural minerality and tension. Others, more clayey and deep, yield more structured and full-bodied wines.

Mindful of biodiversity and soil health, Camille and Matt initiated the organic conversion of their entire vineyard as soon as they took over the land in 2022. Some plots are worked by horse, an approach that preserves the soil structure and promotes its microbial life. Flowers are planted between the rows to attract beneficial insects and strengthen the natural balance of the viticultural ecosystem. This approach is not dogmatic but pragmatic: guided by observation, adaptability and respect for the vine.

Winemaking at Domaine Camille Thiriet

At Domaine Camille Thiriet, winemaking aims to be as gentle and non-interventionist as possible. Everything stems from a simple, founding principle summarized by the winemaker herself: "To make good wine, you need good grapes!" That is why sorting the harvest is a central step — often lengthy, always meticulous. Only the healthiest and ripest grapes enter the winery.

Fermentation is carried out solely with indigenous yeasts naturally present on the grapes, without the addition of any inputs. Pump-overs are light, performed by bucket as in the very first vintages, and supplemented by a few gentle punch-downs in search of infusion rather than extraction. Fermentations last between 9 and 16 days depending on the cuvée. Whole clusters are used depending on the plots and vintages, at varying proportions that can reach 100% for certain red cuvées, bringing freshness, spice and aromatic complexity.

Pressing is carried out in a wooden basket press, which allows gentle and progressive extraction. For the white wines, fermentation is initiated in a stainless steel tank then completed in barrel, with the whole process followed by ageing on the lees for approximately 10 months before racking. The red wines are aged in used barrels, which preserves the expression of fruit and terroir without masking their identity behind oaky aromas. The wines are bottled without filtration or fining for the great majority of the cuvées.

Camille and Matt refuse any ideological label — organic, biodynamic, natural, conventional. They champion a free, honest and adaptive approach, guided above all by the balance of the wine and the respect for the place. Their leitmotiv: to accompany without constraining.

The cuvées of Domaine Camille Thiriet

Côte de Nuits-Villages "Clos Magny" (Red)

The flagship of the domaine, this cuvée comes from the lieu-dit "Le Clos Magny" in Corgoloin, of which Camille and Matt were the first owners in 2021. The vines, around sixty years old, are planted beneath the famous Clos des Langres on a high-quality clay-limestone terroir. The winemaking incorporates 40% whole clusters. The wine reveals a deep ruby red colour, a seductive nose of fresh red fruits, cherry and raspberry, enhanced by spicy touches and undergrowth. The palate is structured, with supple tannins and a beautiful length. A wine for ageing, emblematic of the singular character of Côte de Nuits-Villages. Bottled without filtration.

Côte de Nuits-Villages "La Montagne" (Red)

From a plot of 50-year-old vines located at 280 metres of altitude on the southern slope of Corgoloin, this cuvée benefits from a sandy-over-clay terroir offering natural freshness and minerality. The winemaking is carried out with 50% whole clusters. The wine stands out for its aromas of crushed raspberry, its spicy touches and its airy, subtle profile. The palate is round and fruity, with lovely fine tannins and a beautiful length. A wine that embodies the elegance and tension characteristic of the Thiriet style.

Côte de Nuits-Villages "Les Retraits" (Red)

Located just above the "La Montagne" plot on the same hillside, at 350 metres of altitude, this vineyard presents a more stony soil and a thinner surface layer of earth. Camille vinified this cuvée for the first time in 2021. The very particular terroir gives the wine a mineral and tense expression, with remarkable concentration and great aromatic depth. A cuvée for lovers of wines with character, to discover with a few years of ageing.

Côte de Nuits-Villages "En la Place" (Red)

This historic plot of the domaine is planted right in front of Camille's family home in Comblanchien, above the Aux Fauques vines of Jean-Marc Millot. The vines, around fifty years old, grow on a deep clay-limestone soil with approximately 20 cm of topsoil over bedrock. The winemaking incorporates 10 to 15% whole clusters. The wine offers a beautiful expression of vibrant red fruits, with vivacity and a dense substance for a Bourgogne Régionale. Bottled without filtration or fining.

Bourgogne Rouge "Les Blanches"

Born from vines of approximately 90 years old located in Pommard and farmed organically, this cuvée takes its name from the characteristic white hue of the plot's limestone soils. The winemaking is carried out with 100% whole clusters, without fining or filtration. The result is a concentrated and thoroughbred Pinot Noir, with aromas of fresh raspberry and redcurrant, supported by a beautiful structure and a confirmed ageing potential. A Bourgogne Rouge that far exceeds the expectations of its appellation.

Bourgogne Chardonnay "Cuvée Confidentielle"

Produced since the very first vintage in 2016, this white cuvée comes from Chardonnay vines approximately eighty years old, located in the village of Puligny-Montrachet. The name "Confidentielle" reflects the rarity of the production, limited to just a few barrels. The wine expresses a pure and delicate nose of white fruits, white flowers and a light citrus touch. The palate is sleek, refined, with a remarkable balance and an aromatic persistence worthy of the finest villages of Burgundy. To be enjoyed with generous aeration or cellared for a few years.

Bourgogne Aligoté "Du Jardin"

Assembled from three plots of old vines located in Meursault, Corgoloin and Comblanchien — including a plot of century-old vines in Meursault —, this Aligoté is vinified with a light skin maceration (10%) before ageing in used barrels for approximately 12 months. It develops notes of citrus fruits, white flowers and an unusual roundness for the grape variety. The finish is elegant and persistent. An exceptional Aligoté that reinvents the codes of the appellation with finesse.

Bourgogne Blanc

Sourced from a blend of négociant vines including some from Mâcon, this Bourgogne Blanc offers a saline and mouth-watering profile, both direct and fresh. A wine for immediate pleasure, faithful to the domaine's minimalist approach, expressing with precision the freshness of Burgundian Chardonnay.

Bourgogne Rosay

A confidential small rosé cuvée, the "Rosay" from Domaine Camille Thiriet illustrates the diversity of the range and Camille's boundless curiosity for the singular expressions of the Burgundian vineyard. A delicate, fruity and refreshing wine, produced in very limited quantities.