Franck’s ancestors owned vineyards in Aloxe-Corton, which they sold off towards the end of the 19th century.
As a child, he spent holidays in the village, working part-time in the vineyards and, in due course, marrying a local girl, Christine. Her family had some vines – enough for Franck to set up as a vigneron in 1993, subsequently adding further vines through rental agreements. In 2017, Franck was joined at the Domaine by his son, Simon.
Franck favours the most simple and natural form of farming possible. The grapes are entirely destemmed and vinified in wooden vats for about two weeks. The wines are aged for 18 months in a barrel, initially with 20 to 25 percent new wood before racking into older casks after 12 months.
Pernand-Vergelesses is a beautiful village tucked away behind the hill of Corton and an excellent source for fine Burgundy at a relatively affordable price. Jadot has registered its own name, Le Clos de la Croix de Pierre, in a vineyard that faces the mighty hill. The lower part of the slope is an excellent site for Pinot Noir, while whites are grown on lighter soils higher up.
Somber and ripe aromas are comprised of notes of plum, violet and plenty of pungent earth character. There is fine richness and volume to the velvet-textured medium-weight flavours that possess good depth on the robust and powerful but not overtly rustic finale.
Wafting from the glass with notes of wild berries cassis rich soil tones and smoke the 2019 Pernand-Vergelesses 1er Cru Les Fichots is medium-bodied fine-boned and lively with bright acids and a pretty core of fruit concluding with a chalky grip on the finish