Visit Domaine Pernot-Belicard – tasting of the 2015s from cask

Burgundy is fascinating as you can explore the wines of the region for decades and visit the villages for years and yet new estates and new names appear on your radar all the time.

Domaine Pernot-Belicard is one of the new estates on my radar .. although the estate was shaped some years back when Philippe Pernot, from the Paul Pernot family, who married the daughter of the relatively unknown Belicard estate also in Puligny-Montrachet, and took over the Belicard vineyard portfolio – around 6 ha in total.

The Belicard estate mostly sold off the grapes to negociant but a quick research show that they also sold a bit under the estate label – but I think its fair to say that the estate has been below most peoples radar at least in recent time.

Philippe Pernot took over the vineyards and the first vintage produced was 2009 – still selling some grapes of to negociant. Since then he has been building a fine reputation among his colleagues .. until it reached my Burgundy radar – can take some time occasionally.

To be honest I have only tasted the 2015s from Domaine Pernot-Belicard – so I can only asses the style and the quality based on this .. and while its a quite hot and in some cases a rather extreme vintage I do feel very confident that Philippe Pernot is a man to follow – as he has managed to make such cool and vibrant 2015s.

The 2015s from Domaine Pernot-Belicard

The 2015 vintage is a hot vintage – rich, low acidity but often with a quite good PH giving the impression of a nice freshness. As a vintage it’s hot and sort of comparable with the 2009 vintage but somehow the wines seems to have more energy despite the low acidity – thanks to the good PH no doubt – and they therefore at this stage seem to drink better than the 2009s. The whites from the 2009 vintage seem to have a slightly dense feel .. and often a glass or two is plenty .. whereas the 2015s seem to drink better so to speak (not that I will endorse gobbling white Burgundies – at least not great wines without me being present!).

Some styles render themselves well to the 2015 vintage, and sort of provide a structure that will make the wines appear fresher and less opulently ripe.

The style of Pernot-Belicard goes well with the 2015 vintage as the citrus (grape/lime) notes is working very well with the rich fruit – sort of offering a spicy freshness to balance the rich fruit. On the top of this – this Puligny minerality is also a nice match for rich vintages.

Without more talk … Philippe Pernot has done tremendously well in 2015 …

Tasting notes from January 26th 2017

The Bourgogne Chardonnay 2015 is a delightful glass offering a lovely freshness and a fine “affordable” note of Puligny. This wine is produced from 2.2 ha plots located below the town of Puligny above he RN974 – hence quite close to he Puligny appellation. The nose offer white and yellow fruit – nice hint of minierality with a nice reference to the Puligny appellation. On the palate fine grip and balance for the vintage – slight reduction with a stony grape induced finish. Love the mineral notes in this wine … this is a tremendous generic Burgundy. Good+ (86 – 87p).

I rarely taste whites from the Beaune appellation – sadly. The Beaune Pertuisots 1er cru Blanc 2015 from Pernot-Bellicard is a fine effort – the bouquet offer rich but cool fruit with a nice citrus infused filigree minerality. On the palate rich but still energetic fruit – silky mid-palate feel – classic white Beaune. It’s however quite fresh for the vintage – crystalline and pure – with a nice saline touch. A lovely glass – Very Good (89 – 90p)

The Meursault Vieilles Vignes 2015 is made from 72 year old vines on the village terroir Les Pelles Dessus – below Gouttes d’Or. The nose offer fresh orchard fruits with a fresh citrus note – lime/grape. On the palate rich yet very balanced feel with a good mid-palate grip to keep the fruit focused. It offers a very good freshness for the vintage. Very Good (88 – 89p)

The Puligny-Montrachet 2015 seems even more fresh with it’s more stony minerality. The nose is brimming with vibrant orchard fruits brought forward by a fine citrus infused minerality. A very good 2015 village – in the making … quite impressive. Very Good (88 – 89p).

The Puligny-Montrachet Champ-Gains 2015 is quite a step up – but style wise in the same league. The nose offer juicy yellow and white orchard fruits – white peach, acacia and a hint of pineapple – balanced by a rather powerful stony minerality and some fresh citrus notes. One the palate rich and quite powerful – but with a nice fresh balance – and a fine focus from the powerful mineral backbone. Fine+ (91 – 93p).

The Puligny-Montrachet Champ Canet 2015 is a step up in power and weight – from this quite rare 1er cru located just south of Meursault Les Perriéres. The nose is brimming with deep yellow fruit – ripe yet balanced – but showing more 2015 character than the Champ-Gains. On the palate very long and intense with a tremendous power and weight for this 1er cru Puligny. It’s rich, almost creamy with a impressive intensity .. hedonistic for those who like to indulge in the more rich white Burgundies. Fine+ (91 – 93p)

Next up the Puligny-Montrachet Les Perriéres 2015 from a vineyard located between Clavaillon and Les Referts and offer a more refined and balanced side of the Puligny appellation in 2015. The nose is fresh with a fine filigree minerality and a lovely citrus infused fruit. On the palate refined and offering more energy and freshness then the Champ Canet – it’s still both long and intense but it has a more effortless and refined expression … Fine++ (92 – 93p)

Last but not least the Meursault Les Perriéres 2015 a tremendously balanced effort for the vintage. Its from a 0.25 ha plot located in Les Perriéres Dessous. The nose is cool and vibrant nicely balanced towards some more fresh white fruit notes – white peach, hint of pear, acacia – brought forward by a refined but powerful minerality. On the palate effortless but intense – refined and focused for the vintage. A mineral powerhouse with a very fine balance. Very Fine (93 – 94p)