Domaine Gérard Thomas et Filles

The story begins with Hippolyte Thomas, Gérard's grandfather, who planted the first vines of this family estate in Saint-Aubin. The village sits tucked in a valley between Chassagne-Montrachet and Puligny-Montrachet, two of Burgundy's most famous names. Gérard Thomas took over the domaine from his father in 1982, and since then he's been quietly building up one of the finest estates in the appellation. Today the property spans 12 hectares across some of the Côte de Beaune's most sought-after terroirs.

A family affair with two daughters at the helm

What makes this domaine special is right there in the name: Gérard Thomas et Filles. Both of Gérard's daughters, Anne-Sophie and Isabelle, joined him in the wine business and now run the day-to-day operations. Anne-Sophie has taken over as winemaker, representing the fourth generation of the family. The label proudly celebrates this evolution, reflecting Burgundy's growing gender diversity among winemakers. It's a story of tradition meeting progress, where skills and passion matter more than old conventions.

The sisters work with meticulous attention to detail. Harvesting is done entirely by hand, with several passes through the vineyards to ensure each bunch reaches optimal ripeness. They handle the grapes carefully to avoid oxidation, treating each cluster with respect. All the whites are barrel-fermented using 25% new oak, which is renewed annually. After fermentation, the wines spend ten months aging in barrels with regular lees stirring to build depth and complexity. It's traditional Burgundian winemaking without shortcuts.

From Saint-Aubin to the grands noms

While Saint-Aubin forms the heart of the estate, Gérard has expanded the holdings since the 1980s through careful acquisitions. The domaine now produces wines from Chassagne-Montrachet, Puligny-Montrachet, and Meursault, giving wine lovers access to some of Burgundy's most prestigious appellations at more approachable levels. The Saint-Aubin vineyards benefit from limestone-rich white clay soils and altitudes between 300 and 350 meters, creating wines with precision and freshness.

The range includes everything from Bourgogne Chardonnay to premier cru bottlings. Their village-level Saint-Aubin Champ Tirant offers a genuine step up in intensity and length. The premier cru La Chatenière shows lime-blossom, dried fruit, and a nutty peachy character with intelligent oak use. But the crown jewel is the premier cru Murgers des Dents de Chien, which translates to "walls of dog's teeth." This 1.82-hectare parcel borders the Puligny-Montrachet premier cru vineyards and sits above the grand cru Chevalier-Montrachet. It delivers elegance and depth that rival the more famous neighbors. The domaine also produces some Pinot Noir, including a premier cru Les Frionnes that shows the red side of Saint-Aubin's terroir.