Y. Clerget, Domaine
Summary
Domaine Y. Clerget is a 28th-generation family estate in Pommard with 5 hectares of exceptional vineyards across Volnay, Pommard, and Meursault, crafting primarily Pinot Noir expressions that showcase the nuanced limestone-clay terroirs of the Côte de Beaune. Under Thibaud Clerget's leadership since 2015, this historic domaine has experienced a renaissance through the revival of family-label bottling after years of selling to négociants, combining traditional Burgundian methods with thoughtful modern techniques.
Heritage & Leadership
Domaine Y. Clerget traces its roots to 1268, making it one of Burgundy's oldest continuously family-owned estates. Based in Pommard, the domaine has passed through 28 generations of the Clerget family, with each generation contributing to its development and preservation of Burgundian winemaking traditions. The modern chapter of the domaine began in 2015 when Thibaud Clerget assumed leadership from his father, Yvon Clerget, after whom the domaine is named.
The transition marked a significant turning point for the estate. Prior to Thibaud's arrival, Yvon had ceased bottling wines under the family label, instead selling the production to négociants. Thibaud, following his viticultural studies and practical experience at other respected Burgundy domaines, made the decision to revive the family label with the 2015 vintage. This revival represents both a continuation of family tradition and a fresh perspective on the domaine's exceptional terroirs.
Vineyards & Wines
Domaine Y. Clerget manages approximately 5 hectares of vineyards spread across the communes of Volnay, Pommard, and Meursault. The domaine's holdings include several distinguished Premier Cru sites in Volnay, notably Champans, Carelle sous la Chapelle, and the Clos du Verseuil monopole—a rare 0.68-hectare walled vineyard exclusively owned by the Clerget family. In Pommard, the domaine cultivates parcels in the highly regarded Les Rugiens Premier Cru.
The portfolio extends beyond the Côte de Beaune to include a parcel in the Grand Cru Clos de Vougeot in the Côte de Nuits. While predominantly focused on Pinot Noir, the domaine also produces Chardonnay from its Meursault vineyards. The vine age varies throughout the holdings, with some parcels containing vines over 40 years old, contributing to the depth and complexity of the resulting wines.
The limestone-clay soils typical of the Côte d'Or provide the foundation for the domaine's terroir expression, with variations in soil composition, elevation, and exposure creating distinctive characteristics in each wine. The vineyards are meticulously maintained to ensure optimal grape quality and authentic representation of each site.
Philosophy & Practice
Thibaud Clerget employs traditional Burgundian winemaking methods while incorporating thoughtful modern approaches where beneficial. Harvest is conducted entirely by hand, with careful sorting both in the vineyard and at the winery to ensure only the highest quality fruit enters production.
The winemaking process features open-top fermentation vessels, with Thibaud utilizing varying percentages of whole clusters depending on the vintage conditions and specific vineyard characteristics. This approach allows for gentle extraction of tannins and preservation of aromatic complexity. Maceration periods are tailored to each cuvée, typically lasting between 15-20 days.
Aging takes place in French oak barrels, with the percentage of new oak carefully calibrated according to the structure and concentration of each wine—generally ranging from 20% for village-level wines to 30-40% for Premier and Grand Crus. The wines typically spend 16-18 months in barrel before bottling without fining or filtration.
In the vineyards, Thibaud focuses on maintaining healthy soils and vines through sustainable farming practices, emphasizing manual work and minimal chemical interventions. This meticulous attention to detail throughout the growing and winemaking process reflects the domaine's commitment to producing wines that faithfully express the distinctive terroirs of their Burgundian heritage.