Français English

CORTON-CHARLEMAGNE
GRAND CRU 2018

HomepageOur winesOur range of winesCORTON-CHARLEMAGNE
GRAND CRU

CORTON-CHARLEMAGNE
GRAND CRU 2018

click on one of the vintages below for further information
2022   2023  

Varietal

100% Chardonnay.

Tasting notes

Color: deep with golden highlights.

Nose: rich and expressive, with notes of fresh nuts, exotic fruits and cinnamon.

Palate: on the palate, fullness and power, we find fresh walnuts, pepper, exotic fruits and amber. A supple, concentrated wine, marked by a good level of acidity which gives it beautiful freshness and good aromatic persistence.

Food and wine pairing

Serve as an aperitif, with lobster, salmon with sorrel or delicate fish, but also with foie gras, blanquettes and chicken with morels.

Serving suggestions

Serve ideally at a temperature between 13 and 14°C. (55-57°F.).

Ageing potential

In good conditions, this great wine will keep for 7 to 15 years.

Origins

Among the most prestigious great white wines of Burgundy, the Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru appellation is characterized by its location on the top of the Corton hill, straddling the 3 communes of Aloxe-Corton, Pernand-Vergelesses and Ladoix -Serrigny and its three different exhibitions. Corton-Charlemagne comes from a plot overlooking the village of Aloxe-Corton, very steep, made of clay and Oxfordian chalk and very drained by a high proportion of stony elements. The total production of this Corton-Charlemagne is 2200 hl.

This vine was offered by Emperor Charlemagne in 775 to the Saint-Andoche collegiate church in Saulieu. It will remain in this heritage for a thousand years. Still celebrating today the emperor with the flowery beard, Corton-Charlemagne brings together the “Charlemagne” and “En Charlemagne” climats as well as some neighboring and federated climats under this banner (the AOC Grand Cru dates from July 31, 1937) .

Vinification and maturing

Gentle pressing of whole bunches for 2h30. The temperature of the must is lowered to 12°C, then put directly into barrels without settling to preserve as many lees as possible. Very long fermentation with native yeasts (up to 10 months!). Aging for 18 months without racking, no stirring to accentuate the mineral side of the wine, 50% new barrels (450l demi-muids, for a more delicate woodiness and a more assertive mineral character).

Vintage : 2018

Once again, the 2018 vintage in Burgundy offered the vision scenario of an early harvest. It was already the case in 2017, and 2018 was even earlier! This vintage comes in the earliest harvest palmares compare to the norm (around the 20th of September) and come just in the second place after the unforgettable 2003 vintage when harvest between the 20 and the 25th of August in the Côte d’Or department.

All along the year 2018, the weather was very diverse, even atypical according to the month and the area. After a rainy start in the year, the spring period was very summery with sunshine above the seasonal norms and quite scarce rain.

This trend continued until the harvest with a very hot and dry summer, this allowed the grapes to finish their maturation early. Harvest started on the 20th of August and lasted until the third week of September… a particularly long amplitude.

At least quality is here for this 2018 vintage, but also quantity. Grapes arrived to the winery with a perfect state of health. Concentrated, structured, generous, rich and powerful are some of the adjectives that characterize this magnificent vintage.


PDF file