2021 Domaine Rapet Pre & Fils Pernand-Vergelesses “Les Combottes”, Burgundy, France

ABOUT THIS WINE

A great Burgundy white wine from the Pernand-Vergelesses commune. The grape variety used is Chardonnay. The vines are newly planted, dating from the early 2000’s, on new parcels facing south-west, quite difficult to cultivate because of the very steep slope.

The name “Combottes” is a diminutive of “combe”, coomb, which refers to the valley-like character of this parcel.

For 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 30 %. Ageing on lees with stirring lasts until July and the wine is bottled after 12 months of ageing.

The hillside is situated in the “climat”* “Les plantes des champs et combottes” and faces south-west extending from the village; the soil here is white, marly and fairly light. The rows are short with ditches in between to limit erosion.

Le Pernand Vergelesses “Les Combottes” is an eye-catcher because of it’s beautiful colour with a golden tint. It is fresh, lively and elegant and has a delicate bouquet of fresh fruit developing spicy notes with hints of honey and gun-flint when mature. This wine is at it’s best between 3 and 5 years. Served at 12C, it accompanies an elegant starter, a mellow goat cheese in aumnire-purse, stewed langoustine, gambas, fine fish and bleu de Bresse-cheese.

ABOUT THIS PRODUCER

The family estate is extremely old. A wine-taster from 1765 on which the family name appears is carefully kept from generation to generation. After Robert, Roland , and now Vincent and Sylvette are hard at work managing the estate. The Estate comprises 20 hectares of vines in the villages of Pernand – Vergelesses, Savigny les Beaune, Aloxe Corton and Beaune.

Located between Cte de Nuits and Cte de Beaune, the Pernand Vergelesses vineyard, tucked away in the green surroundings of a quiet valley, begins at the foot of Corton hill. Its the only vineyard to offer the whole range of vintages, in both white and red wines. It provides a warm welcome to tourists and enthusiastic amateurs who will really enjoy walking in the valley and taking in the quiet beauty of this spot.