Domaine Pavelot Pernard-Vergelesses 1er Cru Les Vergelesses 2021
We have 17 in stock (Inventory is live and accurate)
The Land
Located in Burgundy, France, Domaine Pavelot’s Les Vergelesses 1er Cru sits at the southern edge of Pernand-Vergelesses, just below the famed Ile des Vergelesses. The east-facing slope benefits from early morning sunlight and excellent air circulation. The soils here are heavier and richer in clay than the Ile above, lending power and depth to the wine. The vineyard’s fine clay deposits with a pebbly structure are easily compacted, further concentrating vine vigor and fruit expression. Domaine Pavelot manages vine balance by maintaining grass cover between the rows, an approach that controls vigor and enhances fruit quality.
The Wine
100% Pinot Noir from 30-year-old vines covering 0.50 hectares. Grapes are hand-harvested and transported in traditional wicker baskets for gentle handling. This cuvée is fully destemmed—the only one at the domaine—to temper its naturally robust tannic structure. After a 3–5 day cold soak, fermentation occurs spontaneously with native yeast in enamel-lined concrete tanks over 16 days. Gentle punchdowns and pumpovers ensure balanced extraction. The wine is matured for 12 months sur lie in French oak barrels (40% new) before assembling and further resting in tank prior to bottling without filtration. Les Vergelesses shows ripe red fruit, cassis, kirsch, and spice, backed by pronounced tannins and firm structure. It is the most powerful red in Pavelot’s range and benefits from cellaring to fully reveal its complexity.
Note: this wine is reductive, meaning it requires air to fully open up. We recommend decanting this Burgundy prior to serving or opening up the bottle hours in advance to allow gentle oxygen into the wine.
The People
The Pavelot family has farmed Pernand-Vergelesses for generations, working with a deep respect for their unique terroir. Their philosophy blends careful vineyard management with traditional, minimal-intervention winemaking. Every ferment is guided by vintage and site conditions. Domaine Pavelot’s meticulous approach produces wines that consistently express the intensity, structure, and distinct minerality of the best east-facing slopes of Pernand-Vergelesses, including the standout Les Vergelesses 1er Cru.
Food Pairings:
Beef Tartare with Cornichons and Dijon Mustard – The wine’s bright acidity and taut structure cut cleanly through the rich texture of hand-cut raw beef. The subtle spice and red fruit amplify the classic garnish of briny cornichons and sharp mustard, creating a refined, Burgundian balance of earth and elegance.
Shallot and Thyme Tarte Tatin – Roasted shallots deliver savory depth and subtle sweetness that play beautifully with the Pinot Noir’s savory edge and red fruit lift. The thyme and flaky pastry add a perfect savory buttery crunch and is a dish you will find on menus in France.
Roast Chicken with Chestnut and Mushroom Farce – The succulence of roasted chicken, stuffed with a savory blend of chestnuts and wild mushrooms, mirrors the wine’s understated earthiness and fine tannins. The vibrant acidity lifts the dish’s richness, enhancing the forest and fruit notes of this classic pairing.
We ship wine to most states with a $100 minimum order for shipping. We don't ship spirits nor beer.
Weather shipping advisory: Orders placed during times of extreme heat or extreme cold will be held for no charge until more favorable weather returns.
Burgundy, in eastern France, encompasses several subregions, but it is the Côte d'Or that is home to many of the world's most expensive and revered wines. The region, primarily a single east-facing slope, has mixed limestone soils that vary dramatically from village to village and even vineyard to vineyard. White wines, crafted from Chardonnay, range from rich and opulent to lean and intensely mineral, while Pinot Noir produces silky, perfumed red wines of exceptional finesse and complexity. Centuries of winemaking tradition have resulted in every plot being meticulously recognized and scrutinized, making the Côte d'Or a true capital of terroir.
Burgundy - Cote d'Or
Pinot Noir is a thin-skinned, notoriously difficult-to-grow, low-yielding grape that finds its ancestral home in Burgundy, France, where it produces some of the world's most elegant and nuanced wines. While Burgundy remains its spiritual heartland, Pinot Noir has since traveled the globe, finding success in other cooler climates, notably in California, Oregon, New Zealand, and Germany. This grape is a challenge for any grower, as it requires specific conditions to show its best, and yet the wines it produces are capable of such a captivating and singular character.
Pinot Noir
Certified Organic farming is an agricultural practice where vineyards adhere to strict regulations prohibiting the use of synthetic pesticides, herbicides, fungicides, and fertilizers. Instead, certified organic growers rely on natural alternatives, including compost, cover crops, and beneficial insects, to nourish the soil and manage pests. Certification requires compliance with established organic standards, typically verified by third-party agencies such as USDA Organic in the United States or EU Organic in Europe. This method emphasizes ecological balance, biodiversity, and sustainability, aiming to produce high-quality grapes and wines while reducing environmental impact and promoting long-term vineyard health. Organic farming is not allowed to use Glyphosate.
