Bouchard Père & Fils : Corton-Charlemagne Grand cru Domaine 2020

Tasting characteristics and advice for the Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru Domaine 2020 by Bouchard Père & Fils

Tasting

Color

The color shows a pale gold hue with bright golden highlights, reflecting the youth and purity of this great white wine.

Nose

The bouquet reveals great complexity, with dominant aromas of lemon curd and tangerine, accompanied by floral notes of violet. With aeration, fragrances of fresh bread, brioche, and beeswax gradually emerge, along with crystalline mineral nuances and delicate spice notes.

Palate

The attack is fresh and mineral, followed by a broad, powerful mid-palate without heaviness. The texture shows a restrained creaminess, while the muscular structure is supported by bright acidity. The remarkably long, chalky finish lingers with persistent spicy notes of lemon curd and stone.

Food and wine pairings

This Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru Domaine 2020 pairs beautifully with grilled shellfish such as lobster, langoustine, or crayfish. It also matches superbly with noble fish in a creamy sauce, foie gras, as well as poultry prepared with refined sauces.

Serving and cellaring

Serve this Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru Domaine 2020 at a temperature between 12 and 14°C. This wine can be enjoyed until around 2035.

A Burgundy Grand Cru made for aging

The estate

Founded in 1731 in Beaune by Michel Bouchard, a cloth merchant from the Dauphiné, Bouchard Père & Fils is one of the oldest houses in Burgundy and the largest owner of Premier Cru and Grand Cru vineyards in the Côte d'Or, with 130 hectares spread across 450 plots. Acquired in 1995 by Joseph Henriot and then integrated in 2022 into Artémis Domaines of François Pinault, the estate is now run by Frédéric Engerer. In 2025, a strategic reorganization splits the operation into two autonomous entities: Bouchard Père & Fils retains 60 hectares, while the new Domaine des Cabottes brings together 35 hectares of the most prestigious terroirs, including the legendary Vigne de l'Enfant Jésus, Chevalier-Montrachet, and Corton-Charlemagne. This transformation marks the definitive end of the négociant model in favor of estate-grown, certified organic viticulture, emphasizing the precise expression of Burgundy terroirs.

The vineyard

Corton-Charlemagne extends across three communes in the Côte de Beaune: Aloxe-Corton, Pernand-Vergelesses, and Ladoix-Serrigny. The Bouchard Père & Fils plots are located on an east-facing plateau at around 320 meters above sea level. The limestone and marl soils, enriched with fossils and formed from Oxfordian geological layers, give Chardonnay its characteristic crystalline minerality. Morning and midday exposure encourages optimal ripening while preserving the grape’s natural freshness.

The vintage

The 2020 vintage in Burgundy stands out for early budbreak, occurring three weeks ahead of normal. Summer was marked by exceptionally high temperatures and a notable lack of rainfall in July and August, creating significant water stress. These conditions produced remarkable aromatic concentration while maintaining excellent grape health.

Vinification and aging

After fully hand-harvested picking in August, the grapes for this Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru Domaine 2020 are pressed in full and then settled by static clarification for 24 hours. Alcoholic and malolactic fermentations take place in oak barrels. Aging lasts a total of 18 months, including 12 months in French oak barrels (25% new barrels, 75% barrels used for one wine or more) and 6 months in stainless-steel tanks, allowing for harmonious oak integration.

Grape variety

100% Chardonnay.