Chandon de Briailles : Corton Grand cru "Maréchaudes" 2021

Tasting characteristics and advice for the Corton Grand Cru "Maréchaudes" 2021 from Chandon de Briailles

Tasting

Color

The wine displays a deep ruby-red hue, enhanced by garnet highlights that show particularly along the rim of the glass.

Nose

The bouquet unfolds with complexity, revealing aromas of ripe cherry and blackcurrant, alongside notes of blackberry. Spicy nuances mingle with hints of undergrowth and earth, while floral suggestions of violet and peony bring a delicate dimension. Subtle toasted notes round out this aromatic expression.

Palate

On the palate, this grand cru charms with its elegance and finesse. The silky, velvety texture of the tannins provides a refined structure with no harshness. Flavors of red and black fruit blend harmoniously with mineral and earthy notes that lend a beautifully savory complexity. Well-integrated acidity brings freshness and vibrancy, carrying the aromatic expression through to a long, persistent finish where nuances of leather and minerality emerge.

Food and wine pairings

This Corton Grand Cru "Maréchaudes" 2021 is a superb match for grilled or roasted red meats, especially beef. It also pairs wonderfully with game dishes such as duck à l'orange, roasted guinea fowl, or braised venison. Aged soft cheeses such as Époisses, as well as hard cheeses, also make excellent pairings. Truffle and mushroom dishes, along with subtly spiced creamy sauces, bring out the full complexity of this wine.

Serving and cellaring

The Corton Grand Cru "Maréchaudes" 2021 is ideally enjoyed at a temperature between 14 and 16°C. This wine can be appreciated now for its immediate charm, but will gain in complexity with cellaring through to around 2036.

A full-bodied and precise grand cru from Bourgogne

The estate

Founded in 1834 and based in Savigny-lès-Beaune in Côte de Beaune, the Domaine Chandon de Briailles spans 13.7 hectares across Savigny-lès-Beaune, Pernand-Vergelesses, and Aloxe-Corton. Run by Claude and François de Nicolay since 2001, converted to biodynamics in 2005 and Demeter-certified in 2011, the estate practices horse-drawn work in the vineyards and favors natural vinifications along with restrained aging to express remarkable purity and elegance.

The vineyard

The Maréchaudes climat occupies a distinctive position on the hill of Corton, located directly below Corton Bressandes and close to Corton Vergennes, in the northern part of Aloxe-Corton. Its name derives from the Old French "Maresche," referring to the historic marshy areas in the lower sections, now drained. The vineyard benefits from an east and southeast exposure, encouraging early ripening. The soils have a complex, slightly silty clay-limestone composition, with a brownish-red coloration indicative of a pronounced iron-rich character. Numerous limestone stones dot the terrain, resting on a shallow limestone subsoil. This 0.3967-hectare terroir comprises two parcels planted in 1975 and 1980.

The vintage

The 2021 vintage will be remembered as one of the most challenging in recent history for Bourgogne. After a mild start to spring that led to early budbreak in early April, severe frosts hit the vineyards, significantly reducing yields. April and May were cool and wet, slowing the vines’ recovery. Warmer weather in early June allowed for satisfactory flowering, but July and the first half of August once again brought cool temperatures and rain, creating pressure from fungal diseases. Fortunately, late August offered more favorable conditions. Despite these challenges, the vintage produced wines of great elegance, marked by moderate alcohol levels, gentle extraction, and remarkable freshness, favoring finesse over power.

Vinification and aging

The Corton Grand Cru "Maréchaudes" 2021 is vinified using traditional methods with minimal intervention. Fermentation is carried out using a proportion of whole clusters determined by the vintage’s phenolic ripeness. The process takes place in temperature-controlled conical wooden vats, kept below 30° C to preserve aromatic purity. Fermentation and maceration last around fifteen days, accompanied by gravity pump-overs and manual punch-downs. Aging continues for fourteen to twenty months in traditional Burgundy barrels, with new oak limited to between zero and fifteen percent, thereby preserving the terroir’s delicate expression.

Grape variety

100% Pinot Noir