Burgundy
Domaine Yvon Clerget is one of the historic family estates of Volnay, with roots in the Côte de Beaune dating back more than two centuries. The domaine is recognised for its refined and terroir-driven Pinot Noir wines, shaped by some of the finest Premier Cru vineyards of Volnay and Pommard.
Based in Volnay, Domaine Yvon Clerget farms around five hectares across some of the village's most sought-after Premier Cru vineyards, alongside holdings in Pommard. The domaine's identity is deeply tied to Volnay, an appellation long recognised for producing some of the finest and most elegant Pinot Noir wines of the Côte de Beaune. The limestone-rich soils naturally favour finesse, aromatic lift and silky tannins over power or extraction.
Each Premier Cru brings a distinct expression. Volnay Caillerets is often the most linear and mineral, defined by tension and precision. Champans offers greater depth and texture while preserving freshness, whereas Santenots introduces a broader and more structured profile. The holdings in Pommard provide an important counterpoint, bringing darker fruit, firmer tannins and additional structure while maintaining the domaine's restrained style.
Harvesting is carried out entirely by hand, with rigorous sorting both in the vineyard and cellar. The proportion of whole clusters is adapted according to the vintage and balance of the fruit, allowing each wine to retain its individual character.
Fermentations rely on indigenous yeasts with gentle extractions to preserve finesse and purity. The wines are aged for around sixteen to eighteen months in French oak with moderate use of new barrels, maintaining balance and terroir expression.
After several years working abroad, notably in New Zealand and Oregon, Thibaud Clerget returned to Volnay in 2015 to take over the family estate after a long period during which the vineyards had been leased out. His arrival marked a new chapter for Domaine Yvon Clerget, bringing renewed attention to vineyard work, lower-intervention winemaking and the individual expression of each Premier Cru terroir. Today, the domaine is increasingly regarded as the rising reference of Volnay, producing wines that combine classical Côte de Beaune finesse with a more contemporary sense of precision and balance.
