Description
The wine
Pernand-Vergelesses sits at the northern end of the Côte de Beaune — tucked behind the Corton hill, facing southeast, at an elevation that keeps the wines fresh even in warm vintages. The village is best known for the white Premier Cru Sous Frétille, which shares the same ridge and the same soils as Corton-Charlemagne directly across the slope. The red wines from the village appellation are made from Pinot Noir grown on the same limestone and clay-limestone soils — less celebrated than the whites, and consistently underpriced relative to their quality.
Yann Charlopin farms his Pernand-Vergelesses parcels organically and applies the same philosophy he brings to every wine in the range: hand-harvested, fully destemmed, cold maceration before fermentation with native yeasts, slow ageing on fine lees. No filtration. The wax capsule — the distinctive Charlopin-Tissier signature — is applied to every bottle by hand.
At $72 this is one of the most interesting village-level Pinot Noirs on the Amitié list.
Vineyard & vintage details
Producer: Domaine Charlopin-Tissier
Appellation: Pernand-Vergelesses AOC
Grape: 100% Pinot Noir
Village: Pernand-Vergelesses · Côte de Beaune
Soil: Limestone and clay-limestone
Aspect: Southeast-facing
Farming: Organic
Harvest: Hand-harvested · fully destemmed
Vinification: Cold maceration · native yeasts
Ageing: On fine lees · no filtration
Vintage: 2022
2022 vintage note
2022 was a warm, generous vintage across the Côte de Beaune — excellent growing conditions producing wines of good concentration and depth. For Pernand-Vergelesses, where the elevated position and southeast exposure naturally keep the wines fresh, the vintage’s warmth adds weight and richness without sacrificing the mineral precision of the limestone soils. Approachable now. Drink now through 2030.
Tasting notes
Red cherry, raspberry, a hint of violet and spice. The palate has the elegance and freshness characteristic of Pernand-Vergelesses — more delicate than the heavier Côte de Nuits styles, more structured than the lighter Hautes Côtes wines. Fine-grained tannins, good length, clean mineral finish. The cold maceration preserves aromatic purity without sacrificing texture. Drink now through 2030.
Service: 16°C. Roast chicken, duck breast, mushroom dishes, aged soft cheeses.
Yann Charlopin founded Domaine Charlopin-Tissier in 2013 — son of Philippe Charlopin, mentored by Jean-Marie Fourrier. Organic farming, fully destemmed, cold maceration, no filtration. The wines appear on the lists of The French Laundry, Quince, SingleThread, and Les 110 de Taillevent in Paris.
