Paul Pernot - Beaune Marconnets Clos Dessus 2018

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Beaune wine is produced in the commune of Beaune in the Côte de Beaune subregion of Burgundy . The appellation d'origine contrôlée (AOC) Beaune may be used for red and white wine with respectively Pinot noir and Chardonnay as the main grape variety. The production consists of slightly over 85 percent red wine, and slightly less than 15 percent white wine. While there are no Grand cru vineyards within Beaune, there are several well-known and highly regarded Premier cru vineyards, including some that are owned by the large négociant houses in Beaune and produce some of their "flagship" wines at the Premier cru level. The AOC was created in 1936.

In 2008, there was 411.7 hectares (1,017 acres) of vineyard surface in production for Beaune wine at village and Premier cru level, making Beaune the largest village-named appellation of the Côte d'Or, just ahead of Gevrey-Chambertin AOC in vineyard size. A total of 15,652 hectoliters of wine were produced in 2008, of which 13,319 hectoliters were red wine and 2,333 hectoliters white wine. Some 357.06 hectares (882.3 acres) of this area was used for the red wines in 2007. The total amount produced corresponds to almost 2.1 million bottles, which included almost 1.8 million bottles of red wine and a little over 300,000 bottles of white wine.

For white wines, the AOC regulations allow both Chardonnay and Pinot blanc to be used, but most wines are 100% Chardonnay. The AOC regulations also allow up to 15 percent total of Chardonnay, Pinot blanc and Pinot gris as accessory grapes in the red wines, but this is not practiced very often. The allowed base yield is 40 hectoliters per hectare of red wine and 45 hectoliters per hectare for white wine. The grapes must reach a maturity of at least 10.5 percent potential alcohol for village-level red wine, 11.0 percent for village-level white wine and Premier Cru red wine, and 11.5 percent for Premier cru white wine.

Beaune is also the center of the Burgundy wine business, with most of the largest négociants located in the town, as well as the Hospices de Beaune , which annually holds a charity wine auction.

Paul Pernot Description

Domaine Paul Pernot in Burgundy terms is a fairly large Estate with a total of 20 hectares under vine and is the largest owner of Puligny Montrachet vines second only to Domaine Leflaive with 15 hectares in total. When it comes to Puligny-Montrachet, Jasper Morris MW reports in “Inside Burgundy”- Domaine Paul Pernot “could be the outstanding domaine of that appellation”. The domaine is unquestionably one of the top handful of growers in the appellation, his Pulignys have exquisite delicacy and poise but with the structure to age gracefully.

At present the majority of the wines are sold on to extremely fortunate négociants in Beaune. The remainder the domaine retains and bottles under their own name; it’s the absolute crème de la crème and quintessentially representative of Puligny Montrachet at its best. Now home to the seventh generation to work the land, this incredibly traditional producer has barely changed in the last four decades, testament to the old adage: “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.

THE 2018 VINTAGE

The 2018s are textbook Pernot with great concentration, rich and opulent yet retaining a high level of purity and terroir-definition. Alvina Pernot (Paul’s granddaughter) mentioned that “one thing that struck me with 2018s is that across all parcels we had some of the nicest, healthiest, most perfect grapes I have ever seen”.

This wine comes from two parcels totaling 0.43 hectares. One was planted in 1960 and 1961, the other in 1986 and 1987