Domaine Bertheau (Pierre et François)

Producer Article

Domaine Bertheau in Chambolle-Musigny can be summed up by two words–typicity and focus. Their work, as in all great domaines, starts in the vineyards, all of which are located in the village of Chambolle. Bertheau’s holdings would make any lover of great Burgundy drool. Not only does he have Bonnes Mares Grand Cru and Amoureuses Premier Cru (the best premier cru in Chambolle), but his other premier cru holdings are equally impressive–a blend of Baudes, Groseilles, Gruenchers, and Noirots. All of these parcels are very close together and Bertheau harvests them and vinifies them together, giving the wine spectacular complexity. Les Baudes happens to be located just below Bonnes Mares.

A very hands-off winemaker, François Bertheau allows the wines to express themselves–there is very little manipulation, very little racking, very little new wood (only 10% in total), and each wine is left to evolve slowly in barrel. These are classic Chambolles, emphasizing finesse, elegance, high-toned aromatics and silky textures. They typically drink well immediately upon release and remain balanced with aging–their approachability should not be confused with shorter life spans because these wines age beautifully.

Domaine Bertheau is a small but fine domaine in Chambolle-Musigny that counts some of the finest parcels in Chambolle. The domaine’s holdings include the Grand Cru Bonnes-Mares, the super Premier Cru Les Amoureuses and a number of other excellent Chambolle-Musigny Premier Crus. The 6.9-hectare domaine is planted with vines that are on average 50 years old.

The family estate had seen 3 consecutive generations of winegrower before first getting international recognition in 1989, when Robert Parker granted the domaine with a higher ranking than Domaine Comte de Vogüé in his Book “Burgundy: a comprehensive guide”. Pierre Bertheau was the proprietor and winemaker of the domaine at the time. François Bertheau worked alongside his father, Pierre, for twenty years before fully taking over the family estate in 2004.

Purist in style, Francois highly focuses on the peculiarities of each of his terroirs, he wants his Chambolles to be identified as such. The wines are classic Chambolles that emphasize finesse, elegant aromatics and silky textures. Typically drinking well immediately upon release, the approachability of these wines should not be confused with an inability to age!

In the Vineyard

As for all great domains the work starts in the vineyards.

Believing that terroir is paramount, François Bertheau thrives to better understand the particularities of each one of is plots and spends most of his time in the vineyard.

Mindful of the importance of healthy soils and biodiversity in the vineyard François follows the principal of lutte raisonée.

In the Cellar

Like so many of his contemporaries, Bertheau practiced what could best be described as a non-interventionist approach in the cellar.

All grapes are destemmed at this address. The fermentation occurs without the addition of cultured yeasts in temperature-controlled stainless steel vats. Very little pigeage and remontage are done to avoid an overbearing extracted style. Aging follows with minimal racking in a cellar where new oak seldom exceeds 10%. The Chambolle-Musigny village is aged in old foudres.

François Bertheau’s objective is to always preserve the genuine freshness that distinguishes the wines from Burgundy’s most elegant appellation.

Bonnes-Mares Grand Cru

This Bonnes-Mares comes from a 0.34 hectare-plot located in the best area of the Cru in the “terres rouges” section, where the soil is heavier and less stony.

Chambolle-Musigny 1er Cru
Les Amoureuses

Bertheau’s Amoureuses comes from 3 different parcels planted with 40-45 year-old vines.

Chambolle-Musigny 1er Cru
Les Charmes

This Chambolle-Musigny 1er Cru les Charmes comes from 0.66 hectares of vines planted on limestone.

Chambolle-Musigny 1er Cru

This cuvee is a blend, from 1.1ha of vines, of four excellent lieu-dits: Noirots, Les Baudes (just below Bonnes Mares), Groseilles and Gruenchers (both below Les Fuées, the two plots count some of the oldest vines of the domaine) All very close to one another, Bertheau harvests and vinifies all the parcels together.
Chambolle-Musigny Village

The Chambolle-Musigny Village comes from 2.9 hectares of 40-45 year-old vines planted on limestone.

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wine type	Name, Type, Locale	Year
Red	Domaine Bertheau (Pierre et François) Bonnes Mares (View Label Image) Red, France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Bonnes Mares Grand Cru	2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994 1993 1992 1991 1990 1989 1988 1987 1986 1985 1983 1982 1981 1980 1978 1976 1970 1969 1964 1961 1959 1955 1953 NV
Red	Domaine Bertheau (Pierre et François) Bourgogne (View Label Image) Red, France, Burgundy, Bourgogne	2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2008 2007 2006 2005 2003 2002 1999 1997 1996
Red	Domaine Bertheau (Pierre et François) Chambolle-Musigny (View Label Image) Red, France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Chambolle-Musigny	2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995 1993 1992 1991 1990 1989 1988 1987 1986 1985 1984 1983 1982 1978 1976 1969 NV
Red	Domaine Bertheau (Pierre et François) Chambolle-Musigny 1er Cru (View Label Image) Red, France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Chambolle-Musigny 1er Cru	2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994 1993 1992 1991 1990 1989 1988 1985 1983
Red	Domaine Bertheau (Pierre et François) Chambolle-Musigny 1er Cru Les Amoureuses (View Label Image) Red, France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Chambolle-Musigny 1er Cru	2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995 1993 1991 1990 1989 1988 1987 1986 1985 1983 1982 1980 1978 1976 1969 1964
Red	Domaine Bertheau (Pierre et François) Chambolle-Musigny 1er Cru Les Charmes (View Label Image) Red, France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Chambolle-Musigny 1er Cru	2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994 1993 1992 1991 1990 1989 1988 1986 1985 1983 1982 1978 1964 1953
Red	Domaine Bertheau (Pierre et François) Chambolle-Musigny Vieilles Vignes (View Label Image) Red, France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Chambolle-Musigny	2018 2014 2013 2001
Red	Domaine Bertheau (Pierre et François) Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru Les Combottes Red, France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru	1983
Red	Domaine Bertheau (Pierre et François) Marsannay Charmes aux Prêtres Red, France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Marsannay	2015
Red	Domaine Bertheau (Pierre et François) Musigny Red, France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Musigny Grand Cru	2015