Champy : Pernand-Vergelesses 1er cru "Les Vergelesses" 2016

Tasting Notes and Serving Tips for the Pernand-Vergelesses 1er Cru "Les Vergelesses" 2016 from Champy

Tasting

Color

The color is a deep ruby red with violet highlights.

Nose

Intense, the nose reveals fruity notes (small black fruits, blackberries, blackcurrant), alongside roasted and toasted nuances, supported by lovely minerality from the marl-limestone soils.

Palate

A clean, lively attack leads into a palate combining sour cherry aromas with silky, well-integrated tannins. Persistent, the finish charms with its freshness and fruity notes.

Food and Wine Pairings

This Pernand-Vergelesses 1er Cru pairs perfectly with roasted or braised white meats such as veal in sauce, leg of lamb, feathered game birds like pheasant or duck, as well as grilled pork. It also matches well with Burgundy cheeses such as Mont d'Or, Vacherin, Tomme de Savoie, Reblochon or Cîteaux.

Serving and Cellaring

The Pernand-Vergelesses 1er Cru "Les Vergelesses" 2016 is best served at a temperature of 15 to 16°C. This wine can be cellared until around 2031.

An elegant, mineral Burgundy Premier Cru

The Estate

Founded in 1720 by Edmé Champy, the Champy House is the oldest négociant-éleveur House in Burgundy to have been in continuous operation. Based in Beaune, it distinguished itself as early as the 19th century by adopting Louis Pasteur’s discoveries on wine preservation. Since October 2024, the House has been owned by the AdVini group, which has retained the existing team, notably Dimitri Bazas as Technical Director. Champy farms around 21 hectares of vines in the Côte de Beaune and holds the prestigious Entreprise du Patrimoine Vivant certification, an honor awarded to only three wine estates in France. The House stands out for its sustainable winegrowing practices, with 50% of its vineyards under organic farming and 50% HVE-certified.

The Vineyard

Pernand-Vergelesses lies at the junction of two valleys, on hillsides adjacent to the prestigious Corton slope. The 1er Cru "Les Vergelesses" comes from a rolling vineyard on the slopes of the hills of Aloxe-Corton and Savigny-lès-Beaune, at the far north of the Côte de Beaune. Situated between 250 and 350 meters above sea level, this terroir rests on clay-limestone soils.

The Vintage

The 2016 vintage in Burgundy was marked by a devastating frost in April that destroyed many buds before flowering, significantly reducing yields across the region. This nighttime frost was compounded by a morning burn effect when the sun struck vines weakened by the cold. Despite these challenging conditions—along with downy mildew pressure in June due to humidity and irregular spring temperatures—the vintage ultimately produced elegant, refined, mineral white wines rather than opulent ones. The red wines showed fine energy and classic fruit purity, with more elegance than the 2014 or 2015 vintages.

Vinification and Aging

The Pernand-Vergelesses 1er Cru "Les Vergelesses" 2016 undergoes a cold soak for around three days prior to fermentation to extract color and tannic structure. Fermentation, which lasts up to three weeks, is carried out with indigenous yeasts and combines punch-downs and pump-overs to manage extraction and temperature. Aging takes place in 228-liter Burgundy barrels for ten to sixteen months, with up to 30% new oak. The decision of whether or not to include stems is made parcel by parcel, depending on the terroir’s characteristics and the conditions of the vintage.

Grape Variety

100% pinot noir