Pernand-Vergelesses Premier Cru Clos Berthet

Clos Berthet sits on a southwest-facing slope in Pernand-Vergelesses, one of the quieter villages of the Côte de Beaune. At 250 to 300 metres elevation, the vineyard benefits from good drainage and afternoon sun exposure. The western aspect also provides some protection from the continental climate that characterises Burgundy. As a clos, the vineyard is enclosed by walls, a traditional Burgundian arrangement that creates a distinct microclimate and gives the site its name.

• Southwest-facing aspect maximises afternoon sun exposure
• Elevation of 250-300 metres encourages natural drainage
• Walled enclosure (clos) moderates temperature and wind
• Located within Pernand-Vergelesses, Côte de Beaune

The soils of Clos Berthet are clay and limestone, the classic Burgundian combination that underpins the region's finest white wines. Clay retains moisture and contributes body, while limestone provides the mineral backbone and drainage that Chardonnay requires to express precision and finesse. The vineyard is planted exclusively to Chardonnay, reflecting both its Premier Cru classification for white wines and the site's natural suitability for the variety.

• Clay and limestone soils typical of the Côte de Beaune
• Limestone contributes mineral tension and drainage
• Clay provides structure and moisture retention
• Chardonnay is the only permitted variety

Clos Berthet received its Premier Cru classification in 2000, making it one of the more recently elevated sites in Burgundy. It was designated for white wines only, alongside two other new Premier Crus added to Pernand-Vergelesses between 2000 and 2001. Domaine Dubreuil-Fontaine has held the monopole since 1969 or 1970, meaning the estate has sole ownership and production rights over the entire vineyard. This continuity of single-estate ownership is relatively rare in Burgundy, where vineyard fragmentation is the norm.

• Premier Cru status granted in 2000, white wines only
• One of three white-only Premier Crus added in 2000-2001
• Monopole of Domaine Dubreuil-Fontaine since 1969/70
• Single ownership is uncommon in Burgundy's typically fragmented landscape

Clos Berthet produces a white-only Premier Cru Chardonnay that reflects the cooler, more understated character of Pernand-Vergelesses relative to its more famous neighbours. The wine is described as mineral, elegant and age-worthy, qualities consistent with the clay-limestone terroir and the elevated, southwest-facing site. As a monopole, the style of Clos Berthet is shaped entirely by Domaine Dubreuil-Fontaine's winemaking approach, giving collectors and students a single, consistent reference point for what this clos can achieve.