Pernand-Vergelesses remains one of the absolute greatest sleeper appellations in the Côte de Beaune for razor-sharp, texturally brilliant Chardonnay. While famous vineyards like En Caradeux directly flank the legendary Grand Cru borders of Corton-Charlemagne on the very same hill, Maison Champy’s organic Premier Cru parcel of En Creux de la Net sits just across the narrow valley floor, mirroring the exact same high-elevation band and identical, chalky terres blanches soil. Tasting this side-by-side with a lineup of heavy hitters at an importer’s grand tasting in San Francisco, it easily stole the show as the single best Chardonnay in the room—delivering the precise, explosive mineral drive of Grand Cru white Burgundy while saving you easily $100 to $150 a bottle. This is a pristine Cru Burgundy to enjoy right now with total abandon.

Maison Champy is the oldest operating house in Burgundy—established in 1720—with a rich history interwoven with the likes of Louis Pasteur and Gustave Eiffel. Today, the domain operates out of its historic 15th-century cellars in Beaune, working with pristine, certified organic vineyards under winemaker Dimitri Bazas (whose legendary résumé includes stints at Christophe Roumier, Marquis d’Angerville, and Bonneau du Martray). Bazas has focused heavily on extracting pure vineyard expression from top sites like this one, pulling back the oak to let the raw energy and immense pedigree of the terroir scream from the glass. The result balances beautiful, subtle textural finesse with a laser beam of chalky energy, opening with a pristine bouquet of white orchard blossoms, candied lemon peel, and crushed oyster shells.