Méo-Camuzet : Corton Grand cru "Clos Rognet" Domaine 2021

Characteristics and Tasting Tips for the Corton Grand Cru "Clos Rognet" Domaine 2021 by Méo-Camuzet

Tasting

Appearance

The colour reveals an intense, deep ruby hue, enhanced by garnet nuances characteristic of Corton wines.

Nose

The aromatic bouquet displays beautiful complexity, with scents of ripe dark fruits, notably black cherry and blueberry. Floral touches of violet accompany these fruity aromas, while notes of spice and wood add a further dimension to the whole.

Palate

On the palate, this wine seduces with its silky, refined texture. The attack reveals lovely amplitude, followed by an enveloping structure that favours finesse and the expression of the fruit. The remarkable balance and lingering length reflect the meticulous work carried out in both vineyard and cellar. The finish extends elegantly, without excessive roughness.

Food and Wine Pairing

This Corton Grand Cru pairs magnificently with feathered game such as duck à l'orange, quail with grapes or partridge. It also accompanies furred game with flair, such as hare or venison. High-quality red meats, notably fillet of venison, make a classic pairing. Well-matured cheeses with powerful flavours, such as Époisses or Munster, find an excellent balance with the structure and minerality of this wine.

Serving and Cellaring

Despite a certain charm in its youth, the Corton Grand Cru "Clos Rognet" Domaine 2021 has excellent ageing potential. Its keeping qualities are remarkable, at times surpassing the grands crus of the Côte de Nuits in longevity. The 2021 vintage combines low alcohol levels with an unprecedented freshness, favouring a slow and harmonious evolution.

A Corton grand cru combining suppleness and unctuousness

The Estate

In Vosne-Romanée, Domaine Méo-Camuzet takes its name from Étienne Camuzet, who acquired vines in Clos de Vougeot in 1920. In 1959, Jean Méo took over the running of the estate and continued its story. The first vintage under the Méo-Camuzet label was produced in 1983. Today, the estate cultivates prestigious climats of the Côte de Nuits, including Richebourg, Échézeaux and Cros Parantoux. Its Pinot Noirs are elegant and profound, and express all the finesse of the Burgundian terroir.

The Vineyard

Clos Rognet is located in Ladoix-Serrigny, in the north of the Corton appellation, the only red grand cru of the Côte de Beaune. This plot of just 45 ares enjoys a full easterly exposure on the hill of Corton, favouring optimal ripening of the Pinot Noir. Surrounded by its old walls, it benefits from effective microclimatic protection. The soil is of medium depth with a light structure, resting on a clay-limestone subsoil mixed with sand and silt. The vines, planted in the 1920s from an early selection, produce exemplary small, cylindrical grapes. The centenarian age of these vines, combined with the exceptional quality of the terroir, creates ideal conditions for crafting wines with remarkable ageing capacity.

The Vintage

The 2021 vintage in Burgundy was marked by an episode of spring frost of rare intensity, affecting the entire French vineyard. The milder conditions that followed favoured flowering at the end of May, before particularly rainy months of June and July. Weather instability was observed between mid-July and mid-August, then the welcome rains of late August allowed optimal ripening. The small yields resulting from the frost favoured concentration and phenolic ripeness in the grapes. The harvest took place under sunny skies, revealing berries of remarkable generosity and balance.

Winemaking and Ageing

The winemaking of the Corton Grand Cru "Clos Rognet" Domaine 2021 takes a minimally interventionist approach. The grapes, harvested by hand in small crates, are carefully sorted before complete destemming without crushing. After vatting and cooling, a cold maceration of four to five days fixes the anthocyanins. Alcoholic fermentation starts with indigenous yeasts and lasts about a week, with manual pumping over and punching down. Total vatting time extends over sixteen to eighteen days. Ageing takes place in French oak barrels with fine or very fine grain, lending softness and elegance to the wine. Malolactic fermentations begin in spring. Total ageing lasts seventeen to eighteen months on the lees. The wine is bottled by gravity, without fining or filtration, thereby preserving all of its organoleptic qualities.

Grape Variety

100% Pinot Noir