The vine

• Plot /climat

  Sous Frétille

• History

  Frétille is derived from the Old French word "freste" meaning "summit." Sous Frétille lies at the foot of the Frétille hill, whose peak reaches 385 meters. As a recognition of the quality of this terroir, the appellation was granted Premier Cru status in 2000. Many locals from Pernand refer to the wines from Sous-Frétille as their "little Charlemagne".

• Soil

  At the top of the hillside, the soil is thin and composed of white marl. The steep slope and significant rainfall in Pernand-Vergelesses can cause erosion.

• Our plot(s)

  67 ares planted in 1986, 1996, 2000, and 2003, located between 310 and 350 meters in altitude. This hillside of the Frétille slope faces south, and the strong sunlight compensates for the high elevation.

• Age of vines

  • Planting date Surface
  • 1986 8.06a
  • 1996 22.05a
  • 1996 7.72a
  • 2000 6.37a
  • 2003 22.43a

The wine

• Description

  100% Chardonnay from handpicked grapes; vinified and raised in oak casks.

• Taste

  The wine displays a beautiful pale gold color with gourmet notes of almond and orchard fruits. The attack is silky and fleshy. The finale reveals the minerality of the terroir, with good length.

• Serving temperature

  12/14°C. Recent vintages may be decanted to enhance the aroma

The vintage

• 2022: a year of relief for winemakers. The first buds came out earlier in March due to the mild weather, and thankfully the spring frost from April 9 and 10 did not cause any damage to the buds. Spring was hot and dry, making 2022 wines what we would call a premature vintage. By the end of June, the lack of rain started to be a concern. This was shortly followed by heavy rain showers, which despite some localised hail, generated just about enough water for the rest of the summer. The heatwave put the vines under strain but the drought was less damaging than in 2020, which allowed us to harvest grapes in perfect condition. Sunshine comes through this 2022 vintage, with expressive fruit flavours on the whites. We harvested the Chardonnay grapes early, from August 27, in order to preserve the freshness of the fruit. During tasting, the 2022 white vintage is prominent with elegance and delicate flavours in the mouth.