Corton-Charlemagne
Grand Cru 2023
This great white Burgundy from the Côte de Beaune hails from the slopes of the Corton hill.
Origin
This Grand Cru appellation exists only in white and covers a surface area of 71.87 ha of which 48.57 ha of vines are located in Aloxe-Corton, 17.25 ha in Pernand-Vergelesses and 6.5 ha in Ladoix-Serrigny. The soil is clayey with marls at the upper part of the slope.
The emperor Charlemagne gave these vines to the collegiate church of Saint-Andoche in Saulieu in 775 to whom they belonged for the next thousand years. With a name that still celebrates the memory of the emperor, Corton-Charlemagne includes the Charlemagne and En Charlemagne vineyards as well as a few neighbouring single vineyards (the Grand Cru AOC dates back to 31 July 1937).
Viticulture
Grape variety: chardonnay
Soils: marly, rich in clay with some limestone areas.
Exposition: South.
Pruning: Guyot system.
Average age of the vines: 43 years old.
Vinification
Harvest date: from 10 to 14 September 2023.
The grapes were handpicked.
At the winery: the whole bunches of grapes were gently pressed for 2½ hours. The temperature of the must was brought down to 12°C then was immediately transferred to barrels with no settling to preserve a maximum of lees.
Ageing
Maturation: aged for 18 months in a 450-L barrel, with no racking or stirring to bring out all of this wine’s minerality. 50% new oak barrel.
Barrels: French oak barrels that had been toasted at low temperatures for a long time to impart a subtle, delicate touch of oak were used.
Bottling
Bottling: by gravity on March 18, 2025, wine fined with bentonite, very light lenticular filtration.
Number of bottles: 2,114 bottles & 100 magnums.
Vintage
Fruity and generous
The 2023 vintage experienced unpredictable weather conditions, making work in the vineyards essential for grape quality. Harvesting began in early September under intense heat with the Chardonnays to avoid over-ripening, followed by the reds. The whites will spend two winters in the cellar, while the Pinot Noirs will have undergone short ageing to preserve the fruity aromas. A vintage that brings out the best in each terroir, offering wines that are bright and delicious.
Ageing potential: 10 years and more.
Awards
La Revue des Vins de France - mars 2025 - 95 points
Tim Atkin - Burgundy 2023 Special Report - 94 points
JancisRobinson.com -Negociants'2023 Burgundies - 18 / 20
Tasting notes
Pale yellow in color with white highlights, this gourmet wine opens with aromas of butter and brioche, enhanced by notes of delicately roasted hazelnuts. The palate is rich and elegant, with a lovely acidic length and subtle vanilla notes on the finish. A complex, beautifully grained wine.
