Chandon de Briailles : Pernand-Vergelesses 1er cru "Ile des Vergelesses" 2020

Tasting characteristics and recommendations for the Pernand-Vergelesses 1er cru "Ile des Vergelesses" 2020 from Domaine Chandon de Briailles

Tasting

Color

The wine shows a crystalline pale gold hue, luminous and brilliant.

Nose

The nose reveals a delicate bouquet of white flowers accompanied by aromas of fresh citrus. Mineral notes round out this refined aromatic expression.

Palate

On the palate, this white wine offers beautiful tension supported by a pronounced salinity. The whole stands out for its elegance and a fresh finish that lingers pleasantly.

Food and wine pairings

This Pernand-Vergelesses 1er cru pairs perfectly with fine fish in sauce, seafood, shellfish, or an aged goat cheese. It also pairs very well with poultry in a cream sauce.

Serving and cellaring

The Pernand-Vergelesses 1er cru "Ile des Vergelesses" 2020 is ideally served at a temperature between 11 and 13°C. A light decanting can help it fully express its aromatic complexity.

A mineral and elegant white Pernand-Vergelesses Premier Cru

The estate

Founded in 1834 in Burgundy, Domaine Chandon de Briailles spans 13.7 hectares across the Côte de Beaune, in Savigny-lès-Beaune, Pernand-Vergelesses and Aloxe-Corton, with 12 crus including Corton. A pioneer of biodynamics as early as 2005 and Demeter-certified in 2011, this estate—run since 2001 by Claude and François de Nicolay—practices horse-drawn cultivation and minimalist, natural winemaking.

The vineyard

The 1er cru "Ile des Vergelesses" comes from a renowned climat located between Savigny-les-Beaune and the village of Pernand-Vergelesses. The estate owns three hectares of vines there, including some parcels planted in 1938. The soils are composed of red calcareous marls enriched with silica and iron, giving the wine its distinctive mineral signature. The east-facing exposure of the parcels, situated between 250 and 350 meters above sea level, promotes a cooler microclimate well-suited to producing taut, complex white wines.

The vintage

The 2020 vintage in Burgundy benefited from a mild winter followed by an early spring. Summer was marked by high temperatures and water stress in August, particularly beneficial for old vines whose deep roots were able to draw on the soil’s reserves. These conditions made it possible to achieve optimal physiological ripeness while preserving remarkable natural acidity. Harvest began on August 17, with morning picking to preserve the grapes’ freshness. Modest yields of around 28 hectoliters per hectare favored concentration and the expression of terroir.

Winemaking and aging

The Pernand-Vergelesses 1er cru "Ile des Vergelesses" 2020 was vinified using a minimalist approach that respects both fruit and terroir. The grapes were gently pressed, and the juices fermented spontaneously thanks to indigenous yeasts, with no temperature control and no inoculation. Vinification took place in oak barrels and tanks. Aging lasted 18 months, primarily in used barrels with a maximum of 15% new oak, allowing gentle oxygenation without masking the expression of terroir. The wine was kept on fine lees without racking or stirring, encouraging the development of aromatic complexity. No filtration or fining was carried out before bottling.

Grape variety

100% Chardonnay