Domaine Taupenot-Merme : Corton Grand cru "Rognet" 2018

Tasting Notes and Serving Suggestions for the 2018 Corton Grand Cru from Domaine Taupenot-Merme

Tasting

Color

The color reveals a deep cherry-red hue, reflecting remarkable concentration while retaining the crystalline purity characteristic of great Burgundian Pinot Noirs.

Nose

The bouquet stands out for its strikingly fresh, peppery expression. A hint of white pepper subtly weaves through notes of black cherry, alongside aromas of ripe red berries. A chalky minerality gradually emerges, echoing the distinctive nature of the iron-oxide-rich soils of the climat Le Rognet.

Palate

On the palate, this 2018 Corton Grand Cru is concentrated, compact, and precise. The tannic structure remains firm yet refined, with no roughness. Freshness frames and permeates the entire tasting experience—an impressive feat for this warm vintage. Natural acidity elegantly balances the sumptuousness of ripe fruit, while the aromatic finish lingers with a beautiful mineral dimension. The body sits in a medium register, true to the Burgundian style of balance and finesse.

Food and Wine Pairing

This 2018 Corton Grand Cru pairs perfectly with grilled or roasted meats, especially lamb, roast duck, or red-wine-braised beef cheeks. Game dishes and preparations incorporating gentle spices such as freshly ground black pepper find an elegant partner in this wine. It also pairs beautifully with wild mushrooms, truffle risotto, or aged cheeses such as old Comté or mature Gruyère.

Serving and Cellaring

To fully appreciate this 2018 Corton Grand Cru, it is recommended to serve it at a temperature between 15 and 17°C. Decanting for one hour will allow the wine to open up and reveal its full aromatic complexity.

A Burgundian Corton Grand Cru Combining Concentration and Mineral Freshness

The Estate

Founded in 1963 through the union of the Taupenot and Merme families, Domaine Taupenot-Merme is based in the heart of Morey-Saint-Denis, in Côte de Nuits. Romain Taupenot, representing the ninth generation, has led the estate alongside his sister Virginie since 1998. The domaine spans thirteen hectares across twenty distinct appellations, with a rare presence on both sides of Burgundy. Converted to organic farming in 2001, it stands out for its old vines—averaging over fifty years—and for a minimalist winemaking philosophy that favors an authentic expression of terroir.

The Vineyard

The Corton Grand Cru "Le Rognet et Corton" lies on the eastern slopes of the hill of Corton, with a predominantly east-facing exposure. This historic climat, classified as Grand Cru on July 31, 1937, rests on soils of red clay and stones shaped by iron oxide, over an Oxfordian Jurassic limestone base. Domaine Taupenot-Merme owns a forty-are parcel within this climat, planted in 1987, meaning it was thirty-one years old at the time of the 2018 vintage. This mid-slope location, where the gradient remains moderate, creates ideal conditions for Pinot Noir to fully express itself, lending the wine a distinctive mineral signature and remarkable elegance.

The Vintage

The 2018 vintage was an exceptional year for Burgundy, marked by extreme weather conditions. Winter was unusually mild, followed by flowering in May and a hot, dry summer punctuated by a prolonged heatwave. These conditions could have produced high-alcohol wines or wines lacking freshness, but experienced growers adapted their harvesting decisions to preserve the grapes’ natural acidity. The strategy was to extend the growing cycle and ensure perfect ripeness of the Pinot Noir skins, resulting in wines that combine concentration with remarkable freshness.

Winemaking and Aging

The grapes for the 2018 Corton Grand Cru are fully destemmed before vinification, then undergo cold maceration for ten days at around 10°C, a technique that extracts aromas and color without triggering fermentation. Fermentation then takes place with indigenous yeasts in temperature-controlled stainless-steel vats for approximately eight to thirteen days. Punch-downs and pump-overs are carried out by hand and with great care, guided by tasting. The wine is run off by hand without pumping, then pressed pneumatically at low pressure. Aging takes place in French oak barrels for fifteen to eighteen months, with up to 40% new oak for this Grand Cru. The wine is neither fined nor filtered, thereby preserving its natural texture and mineral complexity.

Grape variety

100% pinot noir