Domaine Bonneau du Martray : Corton-Charlemagne Grand cru 2012

Characteristics and tasting tips for the Domaine Bonneau du Martray Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru 2012

Tasting

Appearance

The appearance is pale to medium yellow, adorned with subtle, luminous golden highlights testifying to the wine's clarity and purity.

Nose

The bouquet reveals remarkable aromatic complexity. The first impressions unveil notes of fresh almond, accompanied by citrus (lemon, pear) and mineral nuances evoking flint. Delicate floral touches (acacia, white flowers, lime blossom) enrich the ensemble. With aeration, the nose evolves towards secondary aromas of buttered brioche, intense honey, toasted hazelnut and vanilla, a legacy of the oak barrel aging. The marine and saline dimension brings a distinctive mineral signature.

Palate

The attack is ample, round and powerful, revealing remarkable concentration resulting from the vintage conditions. The structure develops with increasing intensity, supported by a natural acidity that maintains freshness and tension. The slightly drying phenolic character structures the ensemble and announces great aging potential. The minerality perceived on the nose extends to the palate in the form of dry extract, perfectly balancing the wine's richness. The texture combines opulence and elegance, without heaviness. The finish is distinguished by its exceptional length and persistence, with citrus and mineral notes extending well after swallowing. The austere and balanced character of this conclusion testifies to the wine's youth and its orientation towards prolonged aging.

Food and wine pairings

This 2012 Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru goes beautifully with noble fish prepared with butter or cream sauces, such as a sole meunière with brown butter, a turbot with mousseline sauce or scallops with cream. Shellfish like langoustine or roasted lobster are also excellent partners. Bresse poultry served with a morel sauce or a poultry supreme with Albufera sauce reveal all the complexity of the wine. A fillet of veal with chanterelles offers a harmonious pairing. As for cheeses, favor aged hard cheeses like an 18 to 24-month Comté, a Beaufort, an old Cantal or a Parmesan.

Service and storage

It is recommended to serve this 2012 Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru at a temperature between 12 and 14°C. Given its youth and structure, decanting for about thirty minutes before serving will allow the wine to fully express its aromatic palette. According to professional evaluations, this wine can be enjoyed until at least 2028, or even beyond for lovers of evolved wines.

A Burgundy Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru combining power and minerality

The estate

The Domaine Bonneau du Martray has a history dating back to the eighth century, when Emperor Charlemagne bequeathed these vines to the monks of the Abbey of Saint-Andoche. Created in 1835 through the marriage of Charles Bonneau du Martray to Eugénie Very, the estate today extends over eleven hectares of Grand Crus on the Hill of Corton. Since January 2017, the property has belonged to American entrepreneur Stanley Kroenke, also owner of the prestigious Californian estate Screaming Eagle. The estate stands out as the only Burgundy producer exclusively dedicated to Grand Crus, cultivated using certified biodynamics since 2016. Armand de Maigret oversees general management, while Thibault Jacquet directs daily operations, with Emmanuel Hautus as oenologist since 2011.

The vineyard

This Corton-Charlemagne comes from an exceptional vineyard located on the Montagne de Corton, an isolated hill between two valleys in the Côte de Beaune. The estate owns about 9.5 hectares of continuous plots on the western slopes of the hillside, between 280 and 330 meters in altitude, thus making it the largest single owner of the appellation. This western exposure, combined with the high altitude, creates particularly favorable conditions for Chardonnay, allowing for the preservation of natural acidity while achieving optimal ripeness. The soils are composed of Jurassic limestone covered with shallow colluvium, well-draining, rich in clay and limestone gravel. The upper sections present siliceous marls with flint nodules and fine silts. This pedological complexity, associated with the coolness of the site, confers a distinctive mineral character and remarkable aging potential to the wines. Vineyard management follows Demeter certified biodynamic principles, with manual interventions, light plowing to preserve soil structure and manual harvesting with severe sorting of bunches and berries.

The vintage

The 2012 vintage proved particularly demanding for Burgundy winemakers. Winter began with mild temperatures before an exceptional frost in December reaching -20°C. Spring saw unstable conditions with a mild March at 22°C followed by cold and wet weather in April, May and June. Flowering, which began on June 9, spanned nearly a month due to persistent cold and humidity, causing widespread coulure and millerandage. These physiological accidents considerably reduced yields but naturally concentrated the grapes. The Côte de Beaune also suffered hail episodes in early August. Fortunately, conditions stabilized about two weeks before the harvest, allowing optimal phenolic maturity to be reached. The harvested berries showed reduced size, thick skins and remarkable health. Despite climatic difficulties, the low harvest volume combined with excellent photosynthesis produced concentrated musts with an exceptional balance between sugars, acidity and phenolic maturity.

Winemaking and aging

The 2012 Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru was produced according to the estate's traditional methods, prioritizing respect for the fruit and expression of the terroir. After manual harvesting with rigorous selection, the grapes were gently pressed. Vinification took place in oak barrels, with a proportion of about 20% new barrels, the rest consisting of barrels of one or more wines. This moderate use of new wood aims to preserve the aromatic purity and minerality characteristic of the appellation. Aging on fine lees continued for several months, allowing the wine to develop its complexity and texture while maintaining its freshness. The estate's non-interventionist approach results in winemaking that respects the wine's natural balance.

Grape variety

100% Chardonnay