Domaine Dubreuil-Fontaine is situated in the heart of the Côte de Beaune, near Pernand-Vergelesses, is a family wine business in Burgundy, known for producing some of the world’s finest Chardonnay and Pinot Noir wines.
In 1879, foundation of Pierre Arbinet’s family estate, which now has 50 acres under the management of Christine Dubreuil, the 5th generation who succeeded to her father Bernard and has been joined recently by her daughter Clémentine.
While they farm vineyards as far south as Volnay and Pommard, much of their production is centred around Pernand, including excellent sites on the Corton grand cru hillside, along with the leading premier cru of Savigny-les-Beaune; Les Vergelesses.
The winemaking philosophy at Domaine Dubreuil-Fontaine emphasises traditional and meticulous techniques.
They focus on terroir expression, which involves careful attention to the specific characteristics of each vineyard.
The use of oak barrels for ageing is standard, emphasising using French oak to impart subtle flavours and textures to the wines.
All reds are 100% destemmed before spending 12-15 months in barrel, with 35% new wood used on the grand cru wines to around 15% maximum on the remainder of their range.
The domaine produces a range of red and white Burgundy wines which showcase the elegance, finesse, and complexity typical of Burgundian Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.
Some of their notable cuvées include Premier Cru and Grand Cru wines from renowned appellations like Corton-Charlemagne, Pommard, and Aloxe-Corton.
Among the various vineyards owned by Dubreuil-Fontaine, it's the parcels in the famed Corton grand cru that are cherished most.
In addition to their 0.7ha of Chardonnay planted in En Charlemagne, their Pinot Noir is planted in the prime lieu-dits of Clos du Roi at the top of the Corton hill, to its south-east in les Bressandes, and to the south in les Perrières.
Clos du Roi is perhaps the most complete of the trio, with glorious weight of fruit married to significant structure.
Bressandes meanwhile is for many their favourite, a giving and generous expression yet it retains sufficient character to differentiate itself in the range.
Lastly les Perrières has a more free-draining, stony soil tending to a finer expression of Corton, though as with all of these wines it can be very long lived.
"Enough wood to remark upon sets off ripe yet cool aromas of black cherry liqueur, newly turned earth and a whiff of smoked game. There is excellent verve and detail to the surprisingly fine and appealingly textured larger-scaled flavours that possess focused power on the firm, youthfully austere and impressively persistent finale. Drink through 2032+.
93 points"
Allen Meadows - Burghound
