Claude Dugat

History of Domaine Claude Dugat

The history of Domaine Claude Dugat is inseparable from that of a lineage of Burgundian winegrowers deeply rooted in Gevrey-Chambertin since the 19th century. Founded in its current form in 1991 by Claude Dugat, the estate's origins go back much further, to a family tradition of vineyard workers who initially sold their grapes to négociants. Claude, heir to this long saga, marked a decisive turning point in the early 1990s by deciding to bottle and market his own wines. This bold choice propelled the estate onto the international stage, transforming it into an essential reference for connoisseurs of Burgundy wines.

The birthplace of the estate is the "Cellier aux Dîmes", a historic building dating from the 13th century, acquired in 1956 by Maurice Dugat, Claude's father. This emblematic place, once used to store agricultural tithes intended for the church, retains vestiges dating back to the Gallo-Roman era, adding a mystical dimension to the production of the wines. Claude, together with his wife Marie-Thérèse, elevated the estate to heights of recognition, thanks to exemplary humility and unwavering commitment. Today, the new generation takes over: Claude's three children, Bertrand, Laetitia and Jeanne, have been running the estate since 2015. Bertrand mainly oversees the cellar, while his sisters tend to the vines, infusing a modern touch while preserving the family heritage. This harmonious transition ensures the continuity of a unique style, where each vintage tells the story of a cherished terroir.

Terroirs and Vines of Domaine Claude Dugat

At Domaine Claude Dugat, terroir is king, and every plot of Gevrey-Chambertin is treated with absolute respect to reveal the soul of Pinot Noir. The six hectares of vines, three owned and three leased with full control, benefit from a limestone soil rich in silt and pebbles, typical of the Côte de Nuits. This Burgundian terroir imparts an elegant minerality, remarkable finesse and a freshness that sets the wines apart. The vines, with an average age of 40 years, include some of the oldest in the region, such as those planted in 1910 on tiny plots, producing small, concentrated berries for an incomparable aromatic intensity.

Since 2013, the estate has adopted sustainable, organic and biodynamic viticultural practices, banning chemical fertilisers and herbicides. The approach is minimalist: a "light touch" in the vineyard to maximise grape quality, with controlled yields to favour natural concentration. Harvesting, done by hand and early, is decided by taste rather than laboratory analysis, preserving acidity and avoiding over-ripeness, even during hot summers. Among the emblematic sites: Lavaux Saint-Jacques, a Premier Cru on a south-west facing slope bordering Clos Saint-Jacques; Craipillot, on flat terrain with scree; La Perrière, a former quarry site filled with fertile soil; and the Grands Crus such as Charmes-Chambertin (0.31 ha on iron-rich reddish limestone soil), Griotte-Chambertin (0.16 ha on a low amphitheatre with shallow soil), and Chapelle-Chambertin (on lean soil ideal for wet years). This exceptional Burgundian terroir makes the wines of Domaine Claude Dugat ideal choices for purchasing wine destined for ageing, offering a pure and nuanced expression of Gevrey-Chambertin.

Winemaking at Domaine Claude Dugat

Winemaking at Domaine Claude Dugat is a refined art, faithful to a philosophy of non-intervention in order to let the terroir express itself. All grapes are 100% destemmed, favouring a gentle extraction and avoiding herbaceous notes. Fermentation takes place in concrete tanks, with delicate pigeages twice a day — preferred over pump-overs to limit oxygenation and preserve freshness. After approximately two weeks in tank, the juices are racked two days before being barrelled for malolactic fermentation and ageing.

Ageing in barrels, supplied by the cooperage François Frères, varies according to the cuvées: no new oak for the Bourgogne Rouge, 40% for the Gevrey-Chambertin Village, up to 100% for the Premiers and Grands Crus. Despite this generous use, the wines absorb the oak without showing excessive traces of it, thanks to moderate extraction and a style that has evolved towards less wood influence. Without chaptalization, acidification or excessive sulphiting, and without fining or filtration, the wines retain their natural authenticity, sometimes with a slight sediment in the bottle — a sign of careful handling. This ageing of 15 to 18 months, beginning in the historic semi-underground cellar and then in a cooler cave, produces balanced wines combining power and finesse. For wine buyers in search of traditional Burgundian winemaking, Domaine Claude Dugat offers cuvées of exemplary purity, ready to age magnificently.

The Cuvées of Domaine Claude Dugat

Domaine Claude Dugat offers a limited but prestigious range of cuvées, all sourced from Pinot Noir and restricted to approximately 24,000 bottles per year, making every wine purchase a privilege.

Bourgogne Rouge: An accessible entry-level wine, sourced from vines in Gevrey-Chambertin. Aged without new oak, it offers pure, immediate fruit, with notes of fresh red fruits and a balanced structure. Ideal for young drinking, it embodies the elegant simplicity of the Burgundian terroir.

Gevrey-Chambertin Village: A blend of several village plots, aged in 40% new oak. This wine seduces with its balanced maturity, a juicy fruit evoking redcurrant and cherry, with a lively acidity and fine tannins. Perfect for exploring the Gevrey-Chambertin style, it combines freshness and depth for ageing potential of 5–10 years.

Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru: A principal blend of Craipillot (flat terrain with fertile soil) and La Perrière (former quarry), aged in 75% new oak. Floral and spicy, with aromas of rose and crunchy fruit, it favours finesse over concentration, offering a mouth-watering and dynamic substance. A refined choice for lovers of Premier Crus.

Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru Lavaux Saint-Jacques: From a south-west facing slope adjacent to Clos Saint-Jacques, aged in 100% new oak. This cru exhales notes of peony and pure fruit, with a luminous density on the palate and a straight structure. Deep and nuanced, it represents the excellence of Premier Crus, built for long ageing.

Charmes-Chambertin Grand Cru: From a 0.31 ha plot on iron-rich reddish limestone soil, aged in 100% new oak. Dense and robust, with pure fruit and a mouth-watering acidity, it reveals refined tannins and an introverted substance that opens up with time. A powerful Grand Cru, ideal for collectors.

Chapelle-Chambertin Grand Cru: Drawn from a 7 ha site on lean soil, including the lieux-dits Chapelle and Les Gémeaux, aged in 100% new oak. This wine excels in cool vintages, offering a robustness balanced by a mineral elegance. Sometimes sourced from old vines dating to 1910 (limited cuvée La Chapelle), it is built for exceptional ageing.

Griotte-Chambertin Grand Cru: From the smallest plot (0.16 ha) in this 2.73 ha cru, on shallow amphitheatre soil. Aged in 100% new oak, it bursts with fruit and peony, with a velvety and caressing texture. Graceful and energetic, it is a rare jewel, coveted for its femininity and complexity.

Special mention to the cuvée La Marie, launched in 2018: velvety and generous, it adds a touch of suavity to the range.

In short, Domaine Claude Dugat represents the pinnacle of Burgundy wines, where every bottle is a living testimony to an exceptional terroir and masterful winemaking. With competitive prices on our Vins & Millésimes, take advantage of these rarities to enrich your cellar. Discover the wines of Domaine Claude Dugat now and let yourself be captivated by the authenticity of Gevrey-Chambertin!