2015 Chandon de Briailles Pernand-Vergelesses 1er Cru Ile des Vergelesses Blanc

There is only a single hectare of Chardonnay on the Île des Vergelesses, all planted between 1985 and 1991 on the instruction of the Countess Nadine de Nicolay (mother of Claude and François de Nicolay who currently run the Estate). Madame de Nicolay was quite partial to a nice white Burgundy and thought this site could produce outstanding Chardonnay. This turned out to be a masterstroke as this terroir is now the source of one of Burgundy’s most unique, textural whites. Clive Coates MW has always considered this as the Estate’s emblematic wine. The 2015 is really lovely with a ripe, fleshy texture, notes of ripe pear, stone fruits, apricot kernel and spice. Certainly on the hedonistic side but that is often the case here. ‘The 2015 Pernand-Vergelesses 1er Cru Ile de Vergelesses Blanc is lovely, offering up pretty notes of buttered apples, pear and citrus. On the palate, the wine is more cohesive than it was from barrel, with a glossy attack, succulent acids and a chalky, flavourful finish.’

The Wine Advocate

‘The 2015 vintage is a great success for Chandon de Briailles. Quiet improvements at this venerable address have confirmed their status as a benchmark source of Savigny-lès-Beaune, Pernand-Vergelesses and Aloxe-Corton, with the domaine's Corton Bressandes and Corton Clos du Roi constantly ranking among the very best wines produced from the hill of Corton.’

The Wine Advocate, April 2018

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