Les Vergelesses
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A premier cru so beloved that Pernand named itself after it, producing elegant Pinot Noir from iron-rich limestone slopes above the Côte de Beaune.
Les Vergelesses is a Pernand-Vergelesses Premier Cru producing structured, elegant Pinot Noir from southeast-facing limestone slopes. The vineyard sits between Savigny's Les Vergelesses above and Pernand's Ile des Vergelesses below, occupying a prized corridor of the Côte de Beaune. Its reputation runs so deep that the commune of Pernand appended the name to its own.
- Classification: Burgundy Premier Cru under the Pernand-Vergelesses appellation
- Also known as Les Basses Vergelesses or Basses Vergelesses
- Elevation: 250 to 300 meters above sea level
- Aspect: Southeast to east-facing slopes
- Soils: Iron-rich limestone with clay marl at the top, more pebbly toward the base
- Grape variety: Pinot Noir exclusively
- The commune of Pernand-Vergelesses takes its hyphenated name directly from this vineyard
Location and Setting
Les Vergelesses sits within the Pernand-Vergelesses Premier Cru appellation on the Côte de Beaune, positioned between two other celebrated Vergelesses sites. Savigny-lès-Beaune's Les Vergelesses lies upslope, while Pernand-Vergelesses' own Ile des Vergelesses lies below. This placement in a corridor of named Vergelesses vineyards speaks to the geographical coherence of the area and the shared terroir character running through these plots.
- Situated in Pernand-Vergelesses, Côte de Beaune, Burgundy
- Neighbors Savigny's Les Vergelesses above and Ile des Vergelesses below
- Elevation ranges from 250 to 300 meters
- Southeast to east-facing aspect captures morning sun while moderating afternoon heat
Terroir
The soils at Les Vergelesses shift with elevation. The upper portions of the slope feature iron-rich limestone overlaid with clay marl, providing good water retention and mineral complexity. Lower sections become more pebbly, improving drainage and adding a finer textural influence to the wines. The cool Burgundian climate, with warm, sunny days and noticeably cooler nights, preserves natural acidity and allows for slow, even phenolic development in the Pinot Noir grown here.
- Upper slope: iron-rich limestone with clay marl
- Lower slope: more pebbly, better-draining soils
- Cool continental Burgundian climate with diurnal temperature variation
- Elevation and aspect combine to moderate the ripening window
Wine Style
Les Vergelesses produces medium-bodied red wines from Pinot Noir, defined by structure and elegance rather than sheer power. The iron-rich soils contribute a distinctive mineral quality alongside the more typical Côte de Beaune red fruit character. Expect aromas of red berries, raspberries, wild strawberries, and violets, complemented by earthy and spiced undertones. The tannins are structured without being aggressive, giving the wines the backbone needed for bottle development while remaining approachable in youth.
- Medium-bodied Pinot Noir with structured, integrated tannins
- Aromas of raspberry, wild strawberry, violet, earth, and spice
- Iron-rich soils contribute a distinctive mineral character
- Balanced acidity supports both early drinking and cellaring
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Open Wine Lookup →History and Name
The reputation of Les Vergelesses extends well beyond its vineyard boundaries. The village of Pernand was so closely identified with this premier cru that it formally appended Vergelesses to its own name, becoming Pernand-Vergelesses. This practice of communes borrowing the name of their most famous vineyard is a Burgundian tradition seen across the Côte d'Or, and it underscores the historical prestige that Les Vergelesses has carried for generations. The vineyard also carries the alternate designations Les Basses Vergelesses and Basses Vergelesses.
- Pernand-Vergelesses commune took its hyphenated name from this vineyard
- Alternate names include Les Basses Vergelesses and Basses Vergelesses
- Name-borrowing by communes signals longstanding vineyard prestige in Burgundy
- Fits a broader corridor of Vergelesses-named sites shared between Pernand and Savigny
Notable Producers
Domaine Chanson and Domaine Rapet Père et Fils are the benchmark producers for Les Vergelesses. Both estates bring established Burgundian pedigree to the vineyard. Domaine Rapet Père et Fils is particularly associated with Pernand-Vergelesses and offers some of the most authoritative expressions of the appellation's premier cru sites, including Les Vergelesses.
- Domaine Chanson: longstanding Beaune négociant with premier cru holdings
- Domaine Rapet Père et Fils: specialist in Pernand-Vergelesses with deep local roots
Medium-bodied Pinot Noir with red berry fruit, raspberry, wild strawberry, and violet aromatics layered over earthy and spiced notes. Structured tannins and fresh acidity frame a minerally, iron-tinged finish typical of the iron-rich limestone soils.
- Domaine Rapet Père et Fils Pernand-Vergelesses 1er Cru Les Vergelesses$45-65Benchmark expression from a specialist estate with deep roots in the Pernand-Vergelesses appellation.Find →
- Domaine Chanson Pernand-Vergelesses 1er Cru Les Vergelesses$40-60Established Beaune producer offering reliable, structured Pinot Noir from this iron-rich limestone site.Find →
- Les Vergelesses is a Premier Cru under the Pernand-Vergelesses appellation in the Côte de Beaune; it is red wine only, from Pinot Noir
- The commune of Pernand appended Vergelesses to its name in recognition of the vineyard's prestige, a common Burgundian practice
- Soils are iron-rich limestone with clay marl at the top of the slope and more pebbly soils toward the base
- The vineyard sits between Savigny's Les Vergelesses above and Pernand's Ile des Vergelesses below at 250 to 300 meters elevation
- Also designated as Les Basses Vergelesses or Basses Vergelesses; key producers include Domaine Chanson and Domaine Rapet Père et Fils