Chandon de Briailles : Corton Grand cru "Maréchaudes" 2018

Characteristics and Tasting Advice for the Corton Grand Cru "Maréchaudes" 2018 from Chandon de Briailles

Tasting

Appearance

The color displays a ruby hue with garnet highlights, revealing a beautiful brightness characteristic of a generous vintage.

Nose

The bouquet opens with complexity, expressing aromas of ripe red fruits such as cherry and raspberry, accompanied by notes of black fruits like blackberry. Spicy nuances of white pepper and clove enrich the whole, while touches of forest floor, damp earth and limestone minerality add depth and refinement. With aeration, subtle notes of truffle, candied violet and cocoa gradually emerge.

Palate

The attack is generous and velvety, offering a silky texture of great elegance. The tannins, firm yet perfectly integrated, structure the wine without ever seeming aggressive. The mid-palate, of medium power, retains finesse and balance. The finish lingers at length on chalky mineral notes that recall the limestone terroir, accompanied by welcome freshness and a fine expression of fruit.

Food and Wine Pairings

This Corton Grand Cru "Maréchaudes" 2018 pairs harmoniously with roasted red meats such as beef tenderloin or a rack of lamb. It also elevates game dishes such as venison, wild boar or duck, particularly when served with berry- or spice-based sauces. Wild mushrooms, notably in a gratin or risotto, as well as aged cheeses such as a Comté aged over two years, also make excellent pairings.

Serving and Cellaring

It is recommended to serve this Corton Grand Cru "Maréchaudes" 2018 at a temperature between 14 and 17°C. Decanting for one to two hours before serving will allow the wine to fully express its aromatic range and soften its tannic structure. This wine can be enjoyed now but will continue to evolve favorably until around 2033, or even beyond for bottles stored in optimal conditions.

An elegant, mineral Corton Grand Cru from Burgundy

The estate

Founded in 1834, Domaine Chandon de Briailles is a family-owned estate in Burgundy, located in Savigny-lès-Beaune in the Côte de Beaune. Its vineyard of around 13.4 hectares has remained virtually unchanged since the end of the 19th century. The vines, spread across Savigny-lès-Beaune, Pernand-Vergelesses and Aloxe-Corton, cover 12 crus including the prestigious Corton Grand Cru. Claude and François de Nicolay, the current owners, have run the estate since 2001, with a conversion to organic farming beginning in 2005, Demeter-certified biodynamics since 2011, and horse-drawn vineyard work.

The vineyard

The climat Les Maréchaudes lies on the hill of Corton, the only site in the Côte de Beaune authorized to produce red Grands Crus. Positioned on the lower to mid slopes of the massif, just below the climat Bressandes, this terroir benefits from a favorable east and southeast exposure. The slightly silty clay-limestone soils rest on a base of Bajocian and Oxfordian limestone, giving the wine its distinctive minerality. Domaine Chandon de Briailles owns two parcels totaling around 0.4 hectare, planted in 1975 and 1980, farmed biodynamically with horse-drawn tillage.

The vintage

The 2018 vintage in Burgundy was marked by warm, dry conditions from spring through harvest. This sunny, generous year promoted rapid ripening of the grapes, requiring particular vigilance to determine the optimal picking date. Despite the heat, the wines retained sufficient freshness thanks to balanced acidity. The 2018 vintage produced concentrated, full-bodied and generous wines, while maintaining the elegance and mineral tension typical of Burgundy’s great terroirs.

Winemaking and Aging

The Corton Grand Cru "Maréchaudes" 2018 is made using a minimalist approach that respects the terroir. Manual harvesting is followed by spontaneous fermentation with native yeasts in wooden vats, with a significant proportion of whole clusters. Fermentation temperature is kept below 30°C. Pump-overs and punch-downs are carried out by hand. After fermentation, the wine is transferred by gravity to the cellar for aging for 14 to 18 months in oak barrels, with a maximum of 20% new oak. The wine is bottled without fining or filtration.

Grape variety

100% Pinot Noir