Luc & Lise Pavelot

History of Domaine Luc et Lise Pavelot

The Pavelot family is one of the longest-established families in Pernand-Vergelesses. Pavelot winegrowers appear in the village’s civil records as early as the 17th century, and some municipal archives trace the family’s roots back even further. Generation by generation, the winegrowing property took shape and gradually expanded, each heir patiently adding a few ouvrées to the parcels they inherited, without ever seeking excessive scale. This continuity explains the coherence of today’s vineyards, all concentrated around the village and the Corton hill.

A new chapter began in 2002, when Luc Pavelot and his sister Lise took over the family estate together, then covering nearly nine hectares. The siblings naturally divided their roles: Luc in the vineyards and cellar, Lise in management and sales, while sharing the same exacting standards. They know every parcel and its potential by heart, in every sense. Their most consequential decision was the conversion to organic farming, certified since the 2009 vintage, alongside a return to traditional practices such as collecting the grapes in wicker baskets. Within a few years, the estate had established itself as one of the benchmarks of Pernand-Vergelesses.

Terroirs and Vineyards of Domaine Luc et Lise Pavelot

Pernand-Vergelesses is built into a hillside set back from the Côte de Beaune, where two valleys meet and bring it a distinctive freshness. Its vineyards extend across the Corton hill, whose southwestern slope is home to the grands crus. At the foot of the slope, the vines grow in stony clay-limestone soils, while higher parcels have leaner, more mineral soils. This mosaic allows the estate to offer a veritable survey of the appellation, with four red and two white premiers crus.

For reds, the estate works with Les Fichots, En Caradeux, Les Vergelesses and, above all, Ile des Vergelesses, considered Pernand’s finest red-wine terroir, an enclave on the border with Savigny-lès-Beaune. For whites, En Caradeux and Sous Frétille—the latter planted at altitude beneath the statue of the Virgin Mary—produce Chardonnays of remarkable focus. On the Corton hill, the estate owns parcels in Corton Grand Cru for Pinot Noir and Corton-Charlemagne for Chardonnay, where white marls impart the cru’s legendary minerality. It also has vines in Aloxe-Corton and in regional appellations. Of its nine hectares, about two-thirds are planted with Pinot Noir and one-third with Chardonnay. All are farmed under certified organic practices, with plowing, mechanical soil cultivation and controlled yields.

Winemaking at Domaine Luc et Lise Pavelot

The estate’s philosophy begins with respecting the grapes in the vineyard. Harvesting is done by hand, and the grapes are brought in using traditional wicker baskets, a choice as practical as it is aesthetic: these shallow containers prevent the berries from being crushed and preserve the integrity of the harvest until it reaches the winery. Sorting is rigorous, with the aim of fermenting only perfectly healthy grapes.

The house’s signature lies in its use of whole clusters, which can account for up to 50% of the harvest depending on the cuvée and vintage. This practice adds aromatic depth, vibrancy and a finely defined tannic structure while preserving freshness. Fermentation avoids excessive extraction, with measured punch-downs. Tasters describe the subsequent aging as tailored to each wine, varying with the standing of the cru; the proportion of new barrels can reach 40% for the most structured premiers crus. The oak envelops and supports the wine without ever dominating it, allowing pure fruit to shine through, often lifted by spicy notes of pepper and clove.

The Cuvées of Domaine Luc et Lise Pavelot

The Bourgogne Passe-Tout-Grains opens the red range with this traditional Burgundian blend of Pinot Noir and Gamay, now a rarity. Crisp, refreshing and fruit-forward, with notes of cherry and redcurrant, it is best served cool and offers an affordable, inviting introduction to the estate. The Bourgogne Aligoté, its only regional white, stands out for its lemony vivacity, salinity and aromatic clarity, placing it well above the average for its appellation.

The village-level Pernand-Vergelesses Rouge expresses the terroir’s characteristic freshness, with aromas of raspberry and small red berries, a lively, easy-drinking palate, fine tannins and a long, spicy finish. The village-level Pernand-Vergelesses Blanc, meanwhile, offers floral vibrancy, with hawthorn and citrus notes and a refreshing chalky finish, at a particularly attractive price for a Côte de Beaune white.

The Aloxe-Corton Village provides a sun-kissed counterpoint to the range. Grown at the foot of the hill on soils richer in iron oxide, it yields a fleshier, more powerful Pinot Noir, marked by dark fruit, licorice and a firm tannic structure that benefits greatly from a few years in the cellar.

Situated slightly back from the main slope, the Pernand-Vergelesses 1er Cru Les Fichots offers a delicate floral profile of violet and fresh cherry, with a silky texture and remarkable drinkability. Grown on a sunlit slope, the Pernand-Vergelesses 1er Cru En Caradeux Rouge is denser and deeper: very dark ruby in color, with aromas of raspberry, spices and warm bread, and a palate that combines freshness and power over a very fine tannic framework before a long finish with hints of blackcurrant and kirsch. It is a wine for cellaring that can be kept for ten to fifteen years.

The Pernand-Vergelesses 1er Cru En Caradeux Blanc is this climat’s Chardonnay expression, with aromas of candied citrus, acacia honey and fresh hazelnut, a generous palate and vibrant acidity. Grown at altitude, the Pernand-Vergelesses 1er Cru Sous Frétille is the estate’s most focused white: sleek and saline, with crystalline purity and a long mineral finish that calls for five to ten years in the cellar.

The Pernand-Vergelesses 1er Cru Les Vergelesses yields a fine, fragrant Pinot Noir that is both floral and spicy, with a freshness that makes it particularly elegant. The Pernand-Vergelesses 1er Cru Ile des Vergelesses is the house’s emblematic cuvée and comes from one of the finest red-wine terroirs in the northern Côte de Beaune. Made with around 50% whole clusters and 40% new barrels, it offers inviting aromas of stewed red fruit, pepper and clove. Aging in oak envelops and supports a lively, elegant palate edged with finely defined, pleasantly spiced tannins. A model of precision, it has been recognized several times by the Guide Hachette.

The Corton Grand Cru crowns the estate’s reds with a wine on another level: deep color, a complex bouquet of dark fruit, leather, spices and forest floor, a dense, commanding palate, refined tannins and impressive persistence. It can be cellared for twenty to thirty years. Finally, the Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru represents the pinnacle of the house’s whites. From the white marls of the hill’s southwestern slope, it combines restrained power with aromas of white flowers, browned butter and flint, a generous texture and a spectacular saline finish that comes fully into its own after about ten years in the cellar.