Domaine Taupenot-Merme : Corton Grand cru "Rognet" 2017

A Structured and Intense Corton Grand Cru

The estate

Domaine Taupenot-Merme was founded in 1963 through the union of Denise Merme and Jean Taupenot, the 7th generation of two Burgundian families whose winegrowing history dates back to the 18th century. Based in Morey Saint Denis, the estate has become a benchmark among the great Burgundy wines by developing both its terroir and its winemaking methods.

The vineyard

Farmed organically since 2001, the Domaine Taupenot-Merme vineyard covers 13 hectares. Its old vines average 35 years of age, with some plots reaching 60 years. They are spread across emblematic Grand Cru and Premier Cru terroirs as well as village and regional appellations.

The wine

This Corton Grand Cru "Rognet" 2017 from Domaine Taupenot-Merme comes from a 0.41-hectare vineyard in the commune of Ladoix Serrigny. Planted on clay-limestone soil, the vines are around thirty years old.

Vinification and ageing

Hand-harvested at full ripeness, the grapes are carefully transported to the cellar, which prevents any oxidation or uncontrolled pre-fermentation maceration, before undergoing rigorous sorting. A cold pre-fermentation maceration (10°C) lasting 5 to 8 days takes place in temperature-controlled stainless steel vats, followed by a 7- to 9-day fermentation maceration with manual punching down and pumping over. The vats are emptied by hand without pumping, and the grapes are then pressed pneumatically in stages at low pressure to extract only the noblest tannins. The press wine is tasted before blending. The wine is transferred to barrel 36 to 48 hours after settling in order to retain as much of the fine lees as possible. Ageing on the lees lasts 15 to 18 months in oak barrels (40 to 50% of them new). The wine is bottled without fining or filtration to allow the terroir to express itself as naturally as possible.

Blend

The Corton Grand Cru "Rognet" 2017 from Domaine Taupenot-Merme is made from 100% Pinot Noir.

Tasting

Colour

The wine displays a dark, attractive colour.

Nose

In its youth, the nose reveals intense fruity aromas. As the wine evolves, it grows more complex, with notes of truffle and leather.

Palate

The palate seduces with its structure, its fine and supple tannins and its lovely length.

Food and wine pairing

This Corton Grand Cru "Rognet" 2017 from Domaine Taupenot-Merme is an ideal match for roasted meats, meats in sauce, game or mild cheeses.

Serving

For optimal enjoyment, serve this wine at 14-15°C in its youth. Open the bottle an hour beforehand and decant it to release its aromas. As it evolves over time, it can be enjoyed at 16-17°C.

Cellaring

Already approachable today, this great Corton Grand Cru will show more mellow tannins from 2023-2025. It can also be cellared until 2032-2037 to reveal the full extent of its aromatic complexity.