Self Isolation : Day # 10

2016 Domaine Pavelot Pernand-Vergelesses 1er Cru ‘Ile de Vergelesses’

Burgundy. This storied region in eastern France is considered to be the birthplace of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay and is home to some of the most revered names in all of wine. On one hand, this is a region that is easily digestible as styles are generally similar across the hundreds of appellations within thanks to strict A.O.P. (Appelation d’Origine Protégée) that for the most part restricts plantings to Pinot Noir (for reds) and Chardonnay (for whites). On the other hand, this is a region that rewards a deeper understanding of the intricate, tiered network of appellations, many less than one acre in size with multiple owners. Small production numbers from the top producers means astronomical prices that place the wines out of reach for the average wine consumer (prices for a good bottle of Pinot start around $30 and don’t stop until three more zeros join the party).

That’s why I love finding a totally delicious bottle at a totally appealing price. This single-vineyard bottling from Domaine Pavelot is from the Première Cru (second best) rated ‘Ile de Vergelesses’ site near the village of Pernand-Vergelesses. After about thirty minutes in the decanter, it opens with elegant aromas of wild strawberry, tart raspberry, pomegranate, forest floor, moss and hints of button mushroom with just a touch of barrel spice. Medum-bodied and juicy, it displays notes of earthy forest berries with cedar highlights over gentle tannins and bright acidity that runs through the finish.