Pernand Vergelesses AOC, Burgundy: 10 Best Wines, Styles

Pernand Vergelesses is a village appellation in the Côte de Beaune region of Côte dOr, Burgundy.

This region is a hidden gem for good-value red and white Burgundy that are highly regarded for their rich, fresh characteristics.

In this article, we will explore the Pernand Vergelesses wine appellation, its wine characteristics, the 10 best bottles to buy, some fun serving tips, and the winemaking process.

A Quick Intro To The Pernand Vergelesses Wine Appellation

The Pernand Vergelesses AOC is located among the rolling hills of Côte de Beaune. 

This appellation includes eight Premier Cru vineyards, some of which are dedicated solely to white wine production. However, the majority of Premiers Crus produce both white and red wines.

The white wine Premiers Crus include:

• Sous Frétille
• Clos Berthet
• Clos du Village

The Premier Cru vineyards that produce both white and red wines include:

• Creux de la Net
• En Caradeux
• Ile des Vergelesses
• Les Fichots
• Les Vergelesses

Pernand Vergelesses also shares a part of its land with Corton Hill and its three Grand Cru AOCs:

• Corton
• Corton-Charlemagne
• Charlemagne

Now let us look at the wines produced in the region.

Pernand Vergelesses Wine: Characteristics and Tasting Notes

This Côte dOr AOC produces two wine styles - Pinot Noir red wine and Chardonnay white wine.

The seductive red wines are medium-bodied and have an intense crimson color. They are robust and fleshy with well-melted tannins and spice hints.

The white wines are pale yellow with strong aromas and minerality. They are full-bodied with 13%-14.5 alcohol, showcasing finesse, excellent balance, and depth.

10 Best Pernand Vergelesses Wines To Buy In 2022

Here are the top Pernand Vergelesses wines to try in 2022:

• 2017 Domaine Dugat-Py Sous Frétille
• 2018 Domaine Chandon de Briailles Ile des Vergelesses La Vie est Belle
• 2016 Domaine Mongeard-Mugneret Les Vergelesses
• 2018 Pierre-Yves Colin-Morey Sous Frétille
• 2019 Louis Latour En Caradeux
• 2017 Domaine Chandon de Briailles Ile des Vergelesses
• 2018 Domaine Jean Baptiste Boudier Sous Frétille
• 2019 Domaine Joannet Les Fichots
• 2015 Domaine Follin-Arbelet Les Fichots
• 2018 Olivier Leflaive Pernand-Vergelesses

1. 2017 Domaine Dugat-Py Sous Frétille, Pernand-Vergelesses Premier Cru, France ($181)

This 2017 vintage white wine has a powerful bouquet of strawberry, raspberry, almonds, and minerals with hints of sweet spice. It displays ripe fruit, vanilla, and roasted walnut flavors with good acidity.

2. 2018 Domaine Chandon de Briailles Ile des Vergelesses La Vie est Belle, Pernand-Vergelesses ($135)

The 2018 Domaine Chandon de Briailles has fragrant tropical fruit, lemon zest, hazelnut, brioche, and butter aromas. The wine presents lively acidity with buttered toast and orange marmalade flavors.

3. 2016 Domaine Mongeard-Mugneret Les Vergelesses, Pernand-Vergelesses Premier Cru, France ($82)

The 2016 Domaine Mongeard-Mugneret is a red wine with great balance and finesse. It has expressive raspberry, violet, and black currant aromas with rose, wild strawberry, cherry, and spice flavors on the palate.

4. 2018 Pierre-Yves Colin-Morey Sous Fretille, Pernand-Vergelesses Premier Cru, France ($81)

This 2018 vintage white wine has stone fruit, white blossoms, spice, and toast aromas with a soft ginger flavor, juicy minerality, and bright acidity.

5. 2019 Louis Latour En Caradeux, Pernand-Vergelesses Premier Cru, France ($72)

The 2019 Louis Latour has beautiful orchard fruit, almond, acacia, and floral aromas with smoky hints. The wine delivers pear, pepper, and almond flavors with a long mineral finish.

6. 2017 Domaine Chandon de Briailles Ile des Vergelesses, Pernand-Vergelesses Premier Cru, France ($70)

The 2017 Domaine Chandon de Briailles is a vibrant red wine with a fresh aroma of dark berry, wild plums, stone fruit, and savory spice. It has red fruit and black pepper flavors on the palate with minerality and impressive length.

7. 2018 Domaine Jean Baptiste Boudier Sous Frétille, Pernand-Vergelesses Premier Cru, France ($53)

This 2018 vintage white wine has yellow fruit, lime, and mineral aromas with white fruit and lemon blossom flavors on the palate. It offers mouthwatering acidity and bright minerality with a salty finish.

8. 2019 Domaine Joannet Les Fichots, Pernand-Vergelesses Premier Cru, France ($53)

The 2019 Domaine Joannet is a remarkable red wine with subtle black fruit and spice aromas. It presents an elegant black cherry flavor with soft mineral notes on the palate.

9. 2015 Domaine Follin-Arbelet Les Fichots, Pernand-Vergelesses Premier Cru, France ($52)

The 2015 Domaine Follin-Arbelet is a fleshy wine with sweet red fruit aromas. It showcases silky elegance and firm tannins with a chalky core and soft finish.

10. 2018 Olivier Leflaive Pernand-Vergelesses, Côte de Beaune, France ($48)

This 2018 Olivier Leflaive Chardonnay delivers acacia, honey, and spice aromas with harmonious apple, citrus, and mineral flavors. The wine is lively and dry with a lingering finish.

(Here’s a fun tip: With wines as delicious as these, all you need to do is practice a bit of moderation while sipping them!)

Pernand Vergelesses Wine: Serving Tips And Food Pairings

Here are serving tips for the two wine styles:

• White wine: Serve the Chardonnay wines chilled at 50°F-54°F (10°C-12°C) in traditional white wine glasses. They will go splendidly with sushi, freshwater fish in white sauce, and seafood risotto. You could also pair them with cheeses like Gruyère or blue cheese.
• Red wine: Serve the Pinot Noir wines at 59°F-61°F (15°C-16°C) in Burgundy wine glasses. You can pair these wines with meats like lamb shoulder, duck fricassée, or beef tenderloin and cheeses like Mont d’Or or Vacherin.

Let us look at how these wines are made.

Pernand Vergelesses: Winemaking And Viticulture

Pernand Vergelesses vineyard plots contain vine plantings with an average age of 50 years. 

The terroir comprises east and south facing vineyard plots with limestone and marl soils, which add a mineral character to the wines.

Furthermore, the region’s winemakers have to follow a set of regulations for the production of their red and white wines.

• The white wines must be mostly made from the Chardonnay grape but can contain Pinot Blanc as well.
• The red wines can have a total of up to 15% Chardonnay, Pinot Blanc, and Pinot Gris grapes with 85% Pinot Noir. 
• The allowed base yield for white wine is 45 hectoliters per hectare and 40 hectoliters per hectare for red wine.
• The grapes must have a minimum maturity of 11.5% potential alcohol for Premier Cru white wines and 11% for Premier Cru red wines.

The red wines are typically fermented for around 15 days with skin, stems, and seeds before pressing. They are then aged in oak barrels.

The white wines go through complete malolactic fermentation in oak barrels and are then aged on the lees for 10 to 12 months in 25%-60% new oak barrels. They are often racked and blended before bottling.

Add A Bottle of Pernand Vergelesses Wine To Your Collection

Some of the best Pernand Vergelesses bottles can age for over a decade, making them a fine choice to save for a special occasion. 

Want to add an exquisite Burgundy Grand Cru or Premier Cru wine to your cellar?

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