Domaine Guilbert-Gillet

A new vigneron on the horizon, Benjamin Guilbert did not come from a winemaking family. He has carved his own path in the wine world beginning with oenology studies in Macon, followed by an oenologue diploma in Montpellier. He then pursued a Master of Science at the International Organization of Vine and Wine, where he was able to travel across 25 countries in just 11 months. During this period, Benjamin worked at some of the world’s most renowned estates, including Château Smith-Haut Lafitte, Château Haut-Bron, Domaine de Montille, Domaine Zind Humbrecht, Domaine Trimbach, Domaine Guigal, and Clos de Lambrays. Naming his mentor as Jacky Truchot, a former Morey-Saint-Denis based producer, being one of his greatest inspirations.

Thanks to all this indepth study and dedication to the craft, Benjamin and his wife were able to take on their next challenge, their own wine estate.

Not compromising on quality, the couple sought out the best plots they could find and finally landed in the classic Burgundy region, in the heart of Savigny Les Beaune. With entry into the Burgundy region nigh on impossible now, it was thanks to an investor, Réne Gillet, that this project came to life. Thus the Guilbert-Gillet Domaine was secured in 2020. A modest estate with a small house hidden away among the vines, the winery sitting beneath the house ready for production. Remaining small in plots, it allows Benjamin and his wife Caroline to manage the estate as a whole, working tirelessly to bring their first few vintages to life.

Among the vines, Benjamin is committed to organic and sustainable viticulture, keeping the vines pruned and trained on trellising systems. By focusing on the nuances of each plot, they are able to shape their offering into parcel specific cuvees presenting the terroirs of Savigny in all their glory. For their 70 ares in Echalas, the vines are worked by hand and horse-drawn plows to produce their cuvée of Savigny "Echalas", as well as Aligoté and Savigny 1er cru “Les Rouvrettes”.

Embracing the traditional Burgundian style of winemaking, Benjamin takes care to do every step by hand from harvest to bottling. To begin, 3 selections are made at harvest: one in the vineyard and two in the winery using 2 sorting tables.

For his red grapes, the fruit is fully de-stemmed with long maceration periods. With slow and gentle pressing, the juice then undergoes fermentation before ageing in barrels for at least 18 months without racking. Then bottled using gravity during a favourable lunar phase.
With each vintage, the wines have continued to evolve. With their 2021 vintage being 14 negoce and 3 domaine, now a switch to all domaine fruit with just a couple of negoce cuvées to round out the selection. They are fast becoming sought after wines demanded on the market to rival that of any decent Burgundy producer.

The Wine Selection:

• Savigny-les-Beaune "Aux Fourches" red Savigny-les-Beaune 1er cru "Les Peuillets" red
• Bourgogne Aligote "Aux Boutieres" VV
• Bourgogne Chardonnay "les Perrieres" white
• Savigny-les-Beaune white
• Savigny-les-Beaune 1er cru "Les Peuillets" white
• Bourgogne Pinot Noir "Les Perrieres"
• Savigny-les-Beaune red
• Savigny-les-Beaune "Planchots du Nord" red
• Savigny-les-Beaune "Petits Liards" VV
• Savigny-les-Beaune "Les Echalas" red
• Savigny-les-Beaune 1er cru "Les Rouvrettes" red
• Chorey-Les-Beaune "Les Beaumonts" red
• Pommard 1er cru "les Sausilles" red
• Corton "Le Rognet"
• Morey-St-Denis "Corvee Creunille" red
• Morey-St-Denis "Les Millandes" VV

Clos Cachet is honoured to exclusively import Domaine Guilbert-Gillet’s wines into Australia.