2017 PERNAND VERGELESSES 1ER CRU ILE DES VERGELESSES CHANDON DE BRIAILLES - 12x75cl

Tasting Notes

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  Goedhuis, July 2018

  Even more active limestone in its soil and steeper gradient than neighbouring Les Vergelesses mean the soil is very poor here. As the vines struggle for water and nutrition they produce fruit of spicy, muscular intensity. The well-judged use of 40% whole bunch gives the wine lift, making it immediately appealing.

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  Neal Martin, January 2019,
  Score: 91-93

  The 2017 Pernand-Vergelesses Ile de Vergelesses 1er Cru comes from an east-facing hill equally balanced between clay and limestone, averaging 45-year-old vines. (It was supposed to be classified Grand Cru in 1936 but was denied because it can suffer in cooler vintages.) The bouquet is fresh and detailed, featuring mineral-rich dark berry fruit laced with bay leaf and black tea. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannin. This comes replete with crunchy red berry fruit laced with cracked black pepper and an insistent grip toward the almost Morey-like finish. A very sophisticated Ile de Vergelesses that should give 12 to 15 years of drinking pleasure. 2020 - 2038

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  Burghound, October 2019,
  Score: 91

  Here too there are background vestiges of wood and reduction to the cool and airy mix of both red and dark currant, spice and plum nuances. The mouth feel of the middle weight flavors is conspicuously more sophisticated and more mineral-driven as well and particularly so on the focused, delineated, youthfully austere and impressively long finish. Outstanding. Drink: 2025+

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  Burghound, April 2019,
  Score: 91

  Here too there is a background vestige of barnyard to the cool and airy mix of both red and dark currant, spice and soft oak whiffs. The mouth feel of the middle weight flavors is conspicuously more sophisticated and more mineral-driven as well and particularly so on the focused, delineated and impressively long finish. Once again, my rating assumes that the barnyard element remains as subtle as it is now. Drink 2025+

• 

  Wine Advocate, January 2019,
  Score: 90-92

  Deeper, more multidimensional and more complete than the Les Vergelesses, the 2017 Pernand-Vergelesses 1er Cru Ile de Vergelesses offers up scents of sweet berries, forest floor, wild plums and grilled meats. On the palate, it's medium to full-bodied, satiny and layered, with a quiet presence and impressive length. It's the king of the premiers crus from Chandon de Briailles this year.

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Producer

Domaine Chandon de Briailles

The sibling team at this stunning domaine (Francois and Claude de Nicolay) is most definitely a winning one. Their biggest influence has been to convert the estate firstly to organic and now to biodynamic methods of viticulture and vinification. The wines focus on sensual flavours and refinement, these are not powerful, but the aged vines allow for wines of extraordinary texture and complexity.