Pernand-Vergelesses AOP 1er Cru “Sous Frétille”

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The variety of the reputed white wines of Burgundy: Chardonnay.

Terroir

The vines grow some fifty meters further up than the Clos du Village and we find the same exposure towards the south. However the slope is steeper and the soil poorer: 40 cm of top-layer soil, then white marl and limestone.

Origine du nom

Our white Premier Cru, named “Sous Frétille”, comes from a parcel situated right below the virgin “Notre Dame de Bonnes Espérance” overlooking Pernand. Frétille is the hill, measuring 385 m, where our beautiful village nestles.

Vinification

We bring in the grapes in small crates to keep them intact. The pressing is carried out with a pneumatic press which is less damaging to the grapes. The whole grapes are placed in the press and the pressing lasts for two hours. After 24 hours’ settling at low temperatures, the grape juice is transferred into barrels to ferment, the proportion of new barrels being 25%. Ageing on lees with stirring lasts until July and the wine is bottled after 12 months of ageing.

Notes de dégustation

Here the Chardonnay develops a finesse, an elegance, without loosing it’s incomparable touch of mineral, till saline hints in the after taste. It is a wine to be kept, it’s power will only be tamed after two years. However if you are patient enough to keep this wine in the cellar for five to seven years, you will find aromas of toasted almonds and notes of gun-flint.

Accords mets & vins

Thanks to its intense minerality it goes well with seafood: oysters, noix de Saint-Jacques (scallops), grilled fishes like bream, a fish risotto, white meat as the local chicken « façon Gaston Gérard », hard cheese like Crottin de Chavignol (goat) or the powerfull Epoisses.

Domaine Rapet Père & Fils