Pernand-Vergelesses 'Les Belles Filles' Rouge, Domaine Jean-Claude Ramonet, 2022
Pernand-Vergelesses 'Les Belles Filles' Rouge, Domaine Jean-Claude Ramonet, 2022
- Red Still
- 75.0cl
- 14.0%
- Pinot Noir
Ramonet is one of Burgundy's most celebrated domaines, famous above all for its whites — so when they turn their hand to red, it's worth paying attention. This Pernand-Vergelesses rouge comes from 'Les Belles Filles', a lieu-dit on the Corton hill, where the soils carry more iron and limestone than the softer flanks of the Côte de Beaune. The result is a Pinot Noir with a distinctly mineral, almost saline edge beneath the red fruit — more Chambolle grace than Gevrey muscle, but with proper structure underneath.
The 2022 vintage gave Burgundy a warm, generous season, and this has the ripe, open-knit character to show for it — vivid cherry, wild strawberry, a whisper of dried violet — while the vineyard's natural tension keeps it honest.
- ❖ ABV: 14.0%
Grapes
Pinot Noir
Vintage report
The 2022 growing season in Burgundy began with a worryingly dry spring that had vignerons checking soil moisture levels weekly, followed by a summer that alternated between intense heat and welcome rainfall. The vines handled the stress remarkably well, producing smaller berries with concentrated flavours, though yields dropped significantly across both the Côte d'Or and Chablis. Harvest began earlier than usual, with many producers picking in late August under bright skies.
What emerged from the cellars shows a vintage of surprising finesse given the challenging conditions. The Pinot Noirs display vivid fruit and firm tannins without the jammy weight you might expect from a hot year, whilst the Chardonnays retained their mineral backbone alongside ripe stone fruit flavours. We're finding the village-level wines particularly compelling right now, drinking beautifully with just a year or two of bottle age, though the premier and grand crus will reward patience until the late 2020s.
Tasting Notes
AppearanceClear, bright ruby with a pink-tinged rim and good transparency — typical of the 2022 vintage's clean, ripe fruit.
NoseRed cherry and wild strawberry up front, with dried violet and a faint iron-and-earth quality that speaks clearly of the limestone-rich soils. There's a gentle spice in the background — the sort that comes from the vineyard rather than the barrel.
PalateSilky and medium-bodied, with fine-grained tannins and good natural acidity keeping the ripe fruit in check. The texture is the thing here — Ramonet achieves a kind of precision without austerity, and the mineral, slightly saline finish is a genuine expression of the site rather than winemaking artifice.
FinishClean and persistent, with red fruit slowly giving way to a chalky, iron-flecked dryness that lingers pleasantly.
Overall impressionA village Burgundy that earns its keep through precision and site character rather than weight or volume.
Food Pairings
In the Côte de Beaune, a wine like this would most naturally find itself at table with a Sunday poulet de Bresse roasted with butter and tarragon — simple enough not to overwhelm the wine's delicacy, rich enough to match its structure. Locally, it would also be poured alongside époisses or Cîteaux cheese, both Burgundian classics that welcome the earthy mineral edge of Pinot Noir from this part of the hill. A fricassée of wild mushrooms on toast, or a terrine de campagne with cornichons, would do equally well. For something more seasonal, roasted pigeon with lentils is a pairing that Burgundians have relied on for good reason.
We think this wine would go well with
Serve at around 15-16°C — cool enough to keep the wine's freshness alive, but not so cold that the tannins tighten up. Decanting for 30 minutes would be our suggestion in 2026, just to open up the fruit a little; as it develops over the coming years, it will need less help. A standard Burgundy bowl — generous but not oversized — is ideal, letting the aromas gather without dissipating.
Pernand-Vergelesses sits at the northern tip of the Côte de Beaune, tucked behind the Corton hill. The 'Les Belles Filles' lieu-dit benefits from a mix of limestone and iron-rich clay soils at mid-slope altitude, which tend to produce wines with more structure and minerality than many of the softer village-level sites further south. The aspect is broadly east-facing, giving good morning sun without the heat stress that can occur on the more exposed southern slopes, and the cooler microclimate here generally preserves acidity well even in warm vintages like 2022.
Pernand-Vergelesses is one of the Côte de Beaune's quieter villages, sharing the Corton hill with Aloxe-Corton and Ladoix-Serrigny but producing wines that are far less talked about — which, frankly, is part of their appeal. The village appellation rules require 100% Pinot Noir for reds, and the wines are typically lighter in body than Aloxe-Corton, with an earthy, mineral character that sets them apart from the more obviously plush styles of Beaune or Pommard. Several premier cru vineyards exist here — including Île des Vergelesses, shared with Savigny — and even village-level wines from good producers can offer serious quality at a fraction of the price of more famous neighbours.
The 2022 growing season in Burgundy began with a worryingly dry spring that had vignerons checking soil moisture levels weekly, followed by a summer that alternated between intense heat and welcome rainfall. The vines handled the stress remarkably well, producing smaller berries with concentrated flavours, though yields dropped significantly across both the Côte d'Or and Chablis. Harvest began earlier than usual, with many producers picking in late August under bright skies.
What emerged from the cellars shows a vintage of surprising finesse given the challenging conditions. The Pinot Noirs display vivid fruit and firm tannins without the jammy weight you might expect from a hot year, whilst the Chardonnays retained their mineral backbone alongside ripe stone fruit flavours. We're finding the village-level wines particularly compelling right now, drinking beautifully with just a year or two of bottle age, though the premier and grand crus will reward patience until the late 2020s.
FAQs
What does this wine taste like?
Bright red cherry and wild strawberry with a distinctive mineral, iron-flecked edge that comes from the limestone soils of the Corton hill. The texture is silky and precise rather than rich or weighty — this is Pinot Noir defined by finesse and site character, with a clean, slightly saline finish.
When should I drink this wine?
It's already enjoyable in 2026, but we think it will be more rewarding from 2027 or 2028 onwards, once the fruit and the wine's mineral structure have had a chance to settle together. Drink until around 2035 for the best experience.
Is this wine worth cellaring?
Yes, within reason. This is a village-level Burgundy from a great producer in a generous vintage — it has enough structure to develop further but isn't built for a 20-year journey. A few years of patience between now and 2030 will be well rewarded.
What food should I serve with this?
Roast chicken with herbs is the classic match, and for good reason. It also works beautifully with Burgundian cheeses like époisses or Cîteaux, wild mushroom dishes, roast pigeon, or a well-made charcuterie board. Keep it savoury and ingredient-led rather than heavily sauced.
How should I serve it?
Serve at around 15-16°C in a standard Burgundy bowl. Decant for 30 minutes if you're opening it now — the wine benefits from a little air to open up the fruit. As it ages and softens over the next few years, it will need less preparation.
Why is Ramonet so well regarded?
Ramonet is one of Burgundy's great domaines, particularly famous for white wines from Chassagne-Montrachet — their Montrachet and Bâtard-Montrachet are among the most coveted bottles in the world. Their reds are less celebrated but made with the same unshowy precision and site-driven approach. Finding one at village level is a good way to experience what the domaine does without the grand cru price tag.
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