Crafted by an underground local superstar, Domaine Pavelot Pernand-Vergelessese hails from one of Burgundy’s greatest and underappreciated gems. The famous Grand Cru hill of Corton-Charlemagne dominates the landscape and delivers one of the world’s most coveted Chardonnays.
At its protected base lies Pernand-Vergelesses, which encapsulates everything this sacred terroir should at a value that is quickly disappearing in Burgundy. Although Corton-Charlemagne requires eons to reveal magic, today’s wine is poised to offer immense pleasure in just a few short years. Among the greatest white vintages in recent memory, the 2014 Pernand-Vergelesses delivers an authentic, terroir-driven reflection of its famed neighbor with the concentrated freshness, balance and long-lived grace we all dream of in top white Burgundy. This boutique Domaine is lesser known on our shores but enchants the greatest palates in the region with their small production wines.

The historic Pavelot family may have sewn their roots in Burgundy back in the 17th century, but it is brother-sister duo, Luc and Lise Pavelot, that has sprouted a serious, dedicated following amongst their local colleagues since taking over in the early 90’s. Following their formal winemaking education in Beaune, they each set out to gain experience in the cellars of northern California’s Navarro Vineyards and the famed Domaine Dagueneau in the Loire Valley of France. After taking the reins from their father, Régis, Luc and Lise moved toward organic viticulture, which was certified by Ecocert in 2009. The respected Domaine Pavelot name has only continued to rise as the siblings have pushed the envelope for quality even further. Although they continue to hand-harvest into old-school Burgundian wicker baskets, they embrace modern technology and simultaneously employ traditional winemaking that results in a profound, classic expression in the glass. This particular wine is derived from a special pocket of Burgundy that delivers a near Grand Cru experience for an astonishing price to quality.

Corton-Charlemagne is undoubtedly one of the most treasured and famous sites in the world for Chardonnay and today’s wine is derived from the neighboring Pernand-Vergelesses, which rests at the northwest-facing slope of the famed hill’s base. Nestled at the confluence of three separate valleys, the vines, rooted in limestone and clay soils, are protected from harsher elements and enjoy a microclimate that is a touch cooler than the surrounding villages. This wine’s incredible brightness and pristine, crystalline minerality delivers a riveting sense of place and a near mirror image of its prestigious neighbor at a fraction of the price. In Luc and Lise’s hands, this serious terroir is even more profound. Meticulous green harvesting and maintenance of low yields in the vineyards is followed by strict sorting, which allows only the most pristine fruit into the wine. The grapes are destemmed, pressed and settled into stainless steel then racked into barrel the following day where the fruit undergoes climate-controlled fermentation over the course of 14-18 days. The wine is aged in only 10% new French oak for twelve months, which translates to a terroir-driven snapshot and varietal purity akin to its famous neighbor up the hill for under $40 a bottle. At this caliber, today’s offer is a value destined to be a thing of the past in the very near future.

The 2014 Pernand-Vergelesses displays a light golden core with slight green reflections on the rim. Bright aromas of white peach, creamy yellow apple, lemon blossoms and kaffir lime leaves are laced with hazelnut puree, fresh white flowers, oyster shell, and river rock minerality along with a very light kiss of stunning exotic spiciness. The medium-bodied palate boasts luxurious texture akin to young yet approachable Corton-Charlemagne and is layered with flavors reminiscent of the nose and driven by distinct minerality that seems to linger into the long, elegant finish. Already a joy to experience, this wine will enter its finest expression in another 5-7 years for those of you with a cold, dark cellar. Although this wine heightens any meal involving chicken or white fish, it is a total knockout alongside this recipe for Hazelnut-crusted Scallops.