Pernand-Vergelesses 1er Cru „Île des Vergelesses“ rouge AOC 2020

Wine description for Pernand-Vergelesses 1er Cru „Île des Vergelesses“ rouge AOC 2020 by Chandon de Briailles

Colour & Appearance

Luminous garnet red with medium intensity, typical of an elegant Burgundy Pinot Noir.

Nose

Fascinatingly multi-layered: ripe dark cherries and sour cherries meet mint, graphite and undergrowth. A surprising note of blood oranges lends freshness to the bouquet. In contrast to the warmer Savigny wines, this Île des Vergelesses displays a cool, firm and iodine character – a wine that demands patience.

Palate

The 2020 vintage presents itself in impressive form: balanced and powerful whilst simultaneously silky. The structure is characterised by a deep minerality that reflects the iron-rich terroir, a clear acidity and a gripping yet fine tannin. Dark cherries, berries, sour cherries and barberries dominate the fruit spectrum. Despite its depth and complexity, the wine feels almost weightless – a paradoxical elegance that distinguishes great Burgundies.

Finish

Long-lasting and precise with fine minerality and persistent fruit. The phenolics give the finale structure without harshness.

Terroir & Origin

The Île des Vergelesses (9.41 ha) is considered the finest Premier Cru vineyard site of Pernand-Vergelesses – qualitatively at Grand Cru level. Chandon de Briailles manages 13.31 ha here with vines averaging 40 years old, some over 80 years old (vintage 1938) in an east-facing aspect. The terroir: gravelly and chalky red marl with a high iron content, similar to the legendary Corton hill.

Grape Variety & Vinification

Pinot Noir, spontaneously fermented in wooden vats with a high whole-bunch proportion. Aged for 18 months in barriques and tonneaux with low new oak, filled by gravity, without further movement. Bottling usually directly from the barrel with minimal sulphur.

Food Pairing Recommendations

Duck breast with quince preserve, caramelised pork loin with Cinq Épices or tagine with couscous, aubergine and cinnamon.

Special Features

A wine that already seduces now, but will benefit enormously from 5-10 years of cellar ageing. Increasingly develops into a cool, refined rival to the neighbouring Corton Grand Crus.