In 1982, Gérard Thomas took over the family estate in Saint-Aubin. Today it is a renowned source of excellent white Burgundy, but in the 1980s and 1990s it was very different.
Since 2000, he has expanded the estate to 11.2 hectares, which includes not only the AOC Saint-Aubin, but also areas in Chassagne-Montrachet and Puligny-Montrachet. Since 2010, Gérard's daughters, Anne Sophie and Isabelle, have been active in the business. The new generation has helped the estate make significant progress.
Previously, Gérard used a lot of oak in his wines, but his daughters convinced him of the advantages of using less wood. This further emphasises the unique character of the vineyards.
This Chassagne-Montrachet 1er Cru is fermented in French barrels, 25% of which are new. It then spends 10 months in barrels, with the lees regularly stirred for complexity. The nose is intense, with aromas of lemon/citrus, green apple and smoky/toasted oak. Rich, round and generous on the palate, with an impressive concentration of further citrus and white stone fruit, supported by a bright, lively acidity that gives the wine a lovely balance. The rich flavours linger on the finish.
The vineyard “Les Chenevottes”.
The soil here is noticeably red due to the higher iron oxide content. Within this vineyard, Domaine Thomas has five different plots that are blended for this wine. The Chardonnay vines were planted between 1940 and 2010. Many believe that “Les Chenevottes” is derived from the French word ‘Chanvre’, meaning hemp, a crop that was widely planted before the vines in Burgundy. Biodynamic farming is practiced here. The wine is aged for 18 months on the fine lees and a minimum of 10 months in oak. The use of oak varies depending on the vintage, but almost all are aged in Burgundian lumps or larger foudres.