Domaine Thomson

Domaine Thomson’s spectacular elevated organic site sits at 45° South. It is situated high above the valley floor and has 360-degree views of the Cromwell Basin and Lake Dunstan, framed by the Dunstan and Pisa Mountain ranges and the St Bathans Mountains further beyond. The 14-hectare vineyard’s gentle slopes overlooking Pisa Moorings lakeside settlement have been planted as four distinct blocks – the North Block, the Terraces, the South Block and the Moon Block – each with its own special characteristics. Domaine Thomson are renowned for single vineyard Pinot Noir. the mixture of Davis and Dijon Pinot Noir clones, planted from 2000 are on elevated north east facing terraces in deep gravel with some loess and clay. More recently the vineyard has begun producing elegant Chardonnay. The relatively frost-free, warm mesoclimate and free draining soils provide ideal grape-growing conditions, producing an excellent concentration and intensity of flavours.

Under the guidance of the Vineyard Manager, Simon Gourley, organics and bio-dynamics are practised. The vineyard has been fully certified with BioGro since 2014. Much of the vineyard work is carried out by hand, including hand harvesting to preserve the quality of the fruit. Prominent New Zealand winemaker Dean Shaw of the Central Otago Wine Company produced the first Surveyor Thomson Pinot Noir in 2003 and continues to create outstanding Domaine Thomson wines today.

Owners PM and the late David Hall-Jones don't do things by halves, they also have vineyards in France and a home in Gevrey-Chambertin, Burgundy. In 2013, with help from close friends in the village, they acquired a small parcel of vines in the lieu-dit of “Les Evocelles”, Gevrey-Chambertin, at 47° North. This gave them the opportunity to work with Gerard Quivy, a brilliant winemaker who makes elegant and gentle wines in a non-interventionist style.

In 2018, the portfolio for Domaine Thomson in Burgundy was increased, with the acquisition of four additional parcels of vines. These include , two  parcels of Chardonnay – one in the lieu-dit of “Les Travers de Chez Edouard” which is AOC Village and lies next to the premier cru lieu-dit of “Derrière Chez Edouard”. The other Chardonnay parcel lies a short distance away in  La Rochepot, and the lieu-dit of “En l’Ormeau sur Saint-Aubin”.  The other two parcels are Pinot Noir vines, in the villages of Mercurey and Mellecey.  The Mercurey vines are AOC Village in the lieu-dit of “Ez Chenes”, while the Mellecey lieu-dit is “les Entrevaux”. Each of these wines is made by Armand Heitz, a young and rising star in Burgundy and a staunch proponent of terroir-driven wine and a keen supporter of organics. In addition, Armand produces a top-end Crémant de Bourgogne each year – the Burgundian answer to Champagne!   

You can read more about Domaine Thomson and their wines here.