Domaine Francois Bertheau

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 happen to be located just below Bonnes Mares. The 6.9-hectare domaine is planted with vines that are on average 50 years old.

The family estate had seen three consecutive generations of winegrowers before first getting international recognition in 1989, when Robert Parker granted the domaine 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.


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 the 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.