Pernand-Vergelesses 1er Cru „Île des Vergelesses“ blanc 2018

The Chardonnay comes from the 9.41 hectare Premier Cru site Île des Vergelesses in Pernand-Vergelesses. The site is framed by Savigny's Les Vergelesses as well as Pernand's Les Vergelesses. The quality of the terroir is higher than that of all other Premier Cru sites in the village and is actually at Grand Cru level. The terroir of Pernand-Vergelesses, similar to the one at Corton Hill, is characterized by siliceous and calcareous red marl, which has a high iron content. In addition to 13.31 hectares of Pinot, Domaine Chandon de Briailles also has one hectare of Chardonnay planted in 1985 and 1991 at 10,000 cane density. Here, whole cluster pressing took place in predominantly neutral perennial barriques. The wine was fermented spontaneously and remained there without batonnage for 14 months on the full lees. It was bottled with minimal sulfur from the barrel.

light to medium straw yellow

The 2018 Île des Vergelesses blanc is already in the fragrance a stunningly precise, powerful, clear and mineral wine with intense notes of limes and lemons, green apples and just ripening Reineclauden. In addition, there is a breath of noisette, of best smoky wood and a very light breath of flint and green pineapple.

From year to year, especially with the white Île des Vergelesses clearer how close the site is to Corton. There is an incredible amount of that vibrant energy and punch on the palate here that the best Corton's deliver. The Île des Vergelesses has developed into a greatness of its own at Chandon de Briailles, which is determined by juiciness and citrus freshness, an elegant and fine, even powdery texture and the already mentioned powerful acidity, behind which one hardly suspects a vintage as warm as 2018. Then there's the all-pervasive minerality, the lime, the animating salted lemon and a hint of white pepper and smoke on the finish. This is excellent and already so open and drinkable that you don't know how you can even put this in the cellar for any length of time - although the potential is undoubtedly there.