With the positive evolution of the domaine, this is arguably Philippe’s most impressive range of wines to date.
Picture from Domaine Pernot Belicard
Philippe Pernot still works the vineyards from his family estate, some of which, for the first time with the 2022 vintage, he is taking fruit from and bottling under his own name. Technically, these new wines will count as négoce with a subtly different label, but in reality, they are domaine wines in all but name. In the coming years more land will come to Philippe from his family, but it will be a gradual process as the French tax system is fairly punitive when it comes to inheritance. In the meantime, Philippe continues to make excellent progress with the vineyards he already has. He now gives the wines a little longer in post racking stainless steel, to accentuate their purity and vibrancy. As William Kelley pointed out, ‘it is his desire to refine and improve that marks this (estate) as one to watch.’
Philippe Pernot began picking nice and early on the 25th of August to maximise freshness and keep the wines perky and bright. He has joined the ‘second winter’ brigade, allowing the wines to take on freshness with an extra six months in steel vats in the cellar, and it seems to be working very nicely with the wines gaining in length and nuance. He also put the fine lees back in the vats after racking from barrel, which was a very successful practice this year across the region and contributed to the saline and dynamic qualities of the wines. With the positive evolution of the domaine, this is arguably Philippe’s most impressive range of wines to date.