The Clerget family can trace its lineage back to 1268, in the midst of the crusades. It is believed that crusaders brought back Chardonnay grapes from Jerusalem. From this date onwards, the Clergets have worked hard, gaining recognition for the quality of their wines. Strong believers that vineyards are not born equal, they started to isolate the best plots of the Côte de Beaune and to buy pieces little by little, especially in Volnay, home the most refined Pinot Noirs. In 1936, the family bought a very special and small plot of premier cru called “Clos du Verseuil”, located just next to the magnificent “Taille Pieds” premier cru. They are the sole owners of this climat of 0.68 hectares. In 1945, Jean Clerget took over the vineyards at the end of World War II. Jean got married in 1948 to Edith Bon in Paris and they gave birth to Yvon Félix in Beaune in 1949.

Yvon studied at the Beaune Wine University, worked alongside his father for a few years and then accepted a job for another winery in Switzerland in 1973. Thereafter, his mother Edith took over the reins with the quality of the wines always at hear, such that she only bottled particularly good vintages. It’s in 1975 that Yvon Félix returned and fully took over the Domaine in 1983. After twenty-six vintages under his belt, Yvon decided to sell the grapes to wine merchants. The idea was that eventually, his son Thibaud would take over the reins at the Domaine.

Before taking over in 2015, Thibaud went to the Beaune Wine University, the best wine school in the region in order to learn all things wine and get himself ready to take over the family business. However, to further increase his knowledge he worked at Domaine Hudelot-Noellat in 2012 and 2013 in the vineyard and during the wine making process. In 2013, Thibaud travelled to New Zealand and worked at Giesen winery and in 2014 at Domaine Drouhin in Oregon, USA. These experiences opened up Thibaud’s eyes to the expression of the different terroirs* as well as the importance of the identity of a wine.

Bursting with energy, Thibaud belongs to a new generation of curious and open-minded winemakers. He is never rigid in his principles nor locked in strict rules; for him, each vintage is a new challenge and a new adventure. It is his moment to shine.

In the vineyard Thibaud is uncompromising; he grows his grapes to an irreproachable quality. The vines are on average 40 years old, with vineyards such as “Les Caillerets” at 50 years old on average. It is an exceptional heritage to work with vines that have been established for so long; they grow smaller fruits which result in a better concentration of flavour. Thibaud is growing the vineyards in “lutte raisonnée”, a process whereby chemicals may be used where necessary to stimulate the biodiversity of the vines and soil. By doing so Thibaud is able to articulate the complexity of his remarkable vineyards through his wines. The vines are trained to produce quality fruits and the yields are strictly managed.

Back at the Domaine, they are carefully sorted and undergo cold pre-fermentation maceration to preserve the delicacy of the pinot noir grape. Fermentation occurs naturally, followed by gentle treading and extraction. The winemaking is traditional and well executed. The emphasis is put on revealing each terroir with a long maceration of healthy fruits and a gentle handling all the way to bottling. The use of oak is meticulous to lift the fruit and terroir characters but never to overpower the taste.

Today, the Domaine owns the following vineyards:

REDS

- Bourgogne Pinot Noir – “Les Longbois and Les Durots” – 35 Ares
- Volnay –  “Les Petits Gamets and En Echards” - 1.09 hectare
- Volnay 1er cru “Les Santenots” – 68 ares
- Volnay 1er cru “Carelle sous la Chapelle” – 65 ares
- Volnay 1er cru "Les Mitans" - 16 ares
- Volnay 1er cru “Clos du Verseuil” – Monopole - 68 ares
- Volnay 1er cru “En Champans” – 5 ares
- Volnay 1er cru “Les Caillerets” – 47 ares
- Pommard 1er cru “Les Rugiens” – 85 ares
- Clos Vougeot Grand Cru – Grand Maupertui - 32 ares

WHITES

- Meursault “Les Chevalières” – 37 ares

Clos Cachet is honoured to exclusively import Domaine Yvon Cerget’s wines into Australia. They represent beautifully and with landmark-style what Burgundy is all about.

* Terroir is the specific combination of location, vineyard, climate and people that create a wine. Accordingly, different terroirs produce different wines.

Volnay - Meursault - Pommard - Vougeot

View the location of Yvon Clerget vines on the PDF below.