Domaine Berthaut-Gerbet is to some extend a merger between Domaine Berthaut and Domaine Gerbet in 2015. Young and enthusiastic Amélie Berthaut took over her father Denis Berthaut at Domaine Berthaut in 2013 after completing a degree in University of Bordeaux. At the same time, Amélie inherited some vineyards from her mother Marie-Andrée Gerbet (who co-owns Domaine François Gerbet with her sister Chantal Gerbet).
Domaine Berthaut is one of the most well-known and established estates in Fixin, owning 13 hectares of vineyards spread across Fixin and Gevrey Chambertin. Amélie Berthaut is also blessed with some of the most sought-after vineyards in Vosne Romanee from her mother’s side, such as Vosne Romanee Les Petits Monts, Echezeaux, and Clos Vougeot.
Within a short period of time, Amélie Berthaut has already put Domaine Berthaut-Gerbet on the map. Amélie is making some superb wine that are elegant and pure. Currently Amélie Berthaut has 15 hectares of vineyards in her portfolio.
Most of the wines at Domaine Berthaut-Gerbet are fermented in concrete tanks. New oak dosage are relatively low in the Domaine, 0-20% new oak for the village wine, around 40% for the Premier Cru, and around 50% for the Grand Cru. Barrels comes from four fine coopers, mostly medium toast with some light toast. Amélie transfers destemmed wines gently with gravity, unlike Denis Berthaut who did it with pumps. Amélie also invested in some new equipments such as vibrating sorting table and introducing stainless steel fermentation tanks.
Vineyard Portfolio
Echezeaux Grand Cru 0.06 ha, Clos Vougeot, Vosne Romanée 1er Cru Les Petits Monts 0.5 ha, Vosne Romanée 1.5 ha, Gevrey Chambertin 1er Cru Lavaux Saint Jacques 0.13 ha, Gevrey Chambertin 1er Cru Les Cazetiers 0.22 ha, Gevrey Chambertin Clos des Chezeaux, Gevrey Chambertin, Fixin 1er Cru Les Arvelets, Fixin Les Clos, Fixin En Combe Roy, Fixin Les Crais, Fixin, Cotes de Nuits Village 0.45 ha, Bourgogne Les Prielles 1 ha, Bourgogne Hautes Cotes du Nuits 2 ha, Fixin Blanc 0.25ha.
The 2016 vintage was unfortunately down by 50% in volume for Domaine Berthaut-Gerbet.
Tasting Notes
Bourgogne Hautes Cotes de Nuits 2016
This vineyard comes from Amélie’s mother side. A 2 ha parcel at the top of the slope of Vosne Romanee. 60 year old vines that yields small but concentrated berries. Fortunately the hail didn’t affect this vineyard. The concrete tanks retained the fruitiness very well. Light and charming, juicy red berries and light fragrant. No new oak and 100% destemmed. Simple yet flattering. (83/100)
Fixin 2016
The Fixin village is a blend of four parcels, almost 2 hectares in total. The 2016 Fixin village offers a lovely charm and delicate floral tone. Sleek red fruits, good weight and sleek minerals, hard to distinguish a Fixin from Gevrey Chambertin. 100% destemmed and no new oak. Direct mixed berries and subtle floral tones. (83-84/100)
Fixin Les Craies 2016
Les Craies is a village lieu-dit in Fixin, a 1.3 ha vineyard with vine age ranging from 10 – 80 years old. The quality of the soil at Les Craies is good, and the wine shows more depth than the generic Fixin. Approximately 50% of the crop was lost due to the frost. Black cherry, a slightly riper fruit tone with hints of spices and toast. 20% new oak and 20% whole cluster. (85-86/100)
Gevrey Chambertin 2016
The Berthaut-Gerbet Gevrey Chambertin comes from 4 parcels including Clos des Chezeaux. Dark cherry, subtle meat and earth from the Gevrey Chambertin terroir. Vines are on average 40 years old. Lovely fragrant and weight. 20% new oak from four coopers. (86-87/100)
Vosne Romanée 2016
The Vosne Romanée village comes from two parcels at the southern end of Vosne Romanée, Aux Réas and Au Dessus de la Rivière. The vines are Aux Réas is 60 years old and Au Dessus de la Rivière is more than 80 years old, in total 1.5 ha. 22 barrels produced in 2016, yield is around 33 hl/ha. The nose offers an exotic spice of Vosne, dark fruits, mixed cherry, and summer flowers. 100% destemmed. Still very tight, I suspect it will need 8-10 years to truly show its power and grace. (87-89/100)
Vosne Romanée 1er Cru Les Petits Monts 2016
Domaine Berthaut-Gerbet owns 0.5 ha of Les Petits Monts from 5 parcels, mostly in the middle of the slope with a couple very close to Richebourg and Cros Parantoux. The Vosne Romanée Les Petits Monts was luckily not affected by the frost in 2016, and a generous 10 barrels was produced in 2016. This is one of my favourite wines of Domaine Berthaut-Gerbet, the Petits Monts offers great depth and richness, an animalistic rawness. Dark cherry fruits, herbal, wet limestone, and candied violets. Lovely exotic spices on the entrance with good tension. 20% whole cluster and 40% new oak. A sweet spot in Vosne Romanee. (90-92/100)
Clos Vougeot Grand Cru 2016
Amélie Berthaut owns a parcel at the bottom-center of Clos Vougeot. 2015 was the first vintage of their Clos Vougeot, a recent addition from Marie-Andrée Gerbet, the mother of Amélie Berthaut. Fortunately there were no frost at her parcel of Clos Vougeot, and she managed to make 4 barrels of Clos Vougeot. 50% new oak. A bright red fruit aroma, juicy and elegant mixed berries, purple flowers, Indian spices and crushed stones. Great drive and richness without the depth and drive of the Petits Monts. The palate is medium plus bodied with a vibrant fresh dark berry finish. Gentle tannin extraction and lifted purity. This needs a good decade to tame the tannins. (91-93/100)
Fixin Champs des Charmes Blanc 2016
Only around 2% of the vineyard in Fixin are planted with Chardonnay. This Fixin Blanc is mainly for in-house consumption (like the Screaming Eagle Sauvignon Blanc). A 0.25 ha vineyard planted in 2009 and 2014 was their first vintage of the Fixin Blanc. Only 600 bottles produced annually. Bright aromas of subtle creamy citrus, elegant fruits and focused acidity. It took 1 year to ferment in the barrel. Elegant and sleek with a sharp acidity finish. (84/100)
Around 50% of Domaine Berthaut-Gerbet wines stay in France, 30% are exported to US, UK, Japan. The remaining to Hong Kong, and a few other countries.
For more information, please visit http://www.domaine-berthaut.com/
