Patrick Javillier : Corton-Charlemagne Grand cru 2020

Tasting characteristics and advice for Patrick Javillier’s Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru 2020

Tasting

Appearance

With its pale golden hue lifted by green highlights, this grand cru bears witness to its youth and freshness.

Nose

The nose is explosive and opulent, revealing rich aromas of apricot and peach, alongside toasted notes of vanilla. More mineral nuances also emerge, evoking green apple, lemon zest, wet stone, and a range of spicy touches. The whole offers lovely aromatic complexity and remarkable vibrancy.

Palate

On the palate, this Corton-Charlemagne is generous while retaining a firm, fleshy minerality that structures the whole. The palate reveals fine concentration and remarkable intensity without heaviness, in an airy style. The very complex finish lingers at length, with a certain youthful austerity and great depth.

Food and wine pairings

This white grand cru pairs beautifully with foie gras, whose bitterness is supported by the wine’s powerful minerality. It also harmonizes wonderfully with shellfish such as lobster, crayfish, or crab. White meats in creamy sauces, especially poultry such as chicken or turkey, also make excellent pairings. Blue cheeses offering saline and mineral notes also form successful matches.

Serving and cellaring

The Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru 2020 can be enjoyed until around 2040. To fully appreciate its qualities, it is recommended to serve it at a temperature between 12 and 14°C. This wine requires patience to reveal all of its complexity, with an optimal drinking window opening from 2028.

A vibrant and elegant Burgundy grand cru

The estate

Domaine Patrick Javillier traces its origins to 1945, when Raymond Javillier decided to cultivate two hectares of family vines in Meursault. In 1974, his son Patrick, trained in oenology in Dijon, officially took over the estate and began its gradual expansion. Today, Marion Javillier and Pierre-Emmanuel Lamy run the property, which spans ten hectares in the Côte de Beaune. The estate is renowned for its precise, thoughtful approach to winemaking, combining technical rigor with deep respect for the expression of Burgundian terroirs.

The vineyard

This Corton-Charlemagne comes from a 0.17-hectare plot located in the climat des Pougets, on the steep slopes of the Corton hill. This due-south exposure guarantees optimal sunshine throughout the growing season. The soils are composed of chalky marl and limestone, with a very thin topsoil layer that forces the roots to draw directly from the bedrock. The steep slopes, reaching a 20 to 23% gradient, ensure excellent drainage and limit vine vigor, thus promoting grape concentration.

The vintage

The year 2020 began with a mild winter followed by a remarkably dry, hot summer. These exceptional climatic conditions led to an early harvest, starting on August 19 for a small plot and truly getting underway from August 25, to conclude on September 1. Despite the heat, the vintage produced delightfully fresh, vibrant white wines, with remarkable transparency of terroir. The grapes reached optimal ripeness while retaining sufficient acidity to ensure structure and aging potential.

Winemaking and aging

The grapes for the Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru 2020 are harvested by hand and then gently pressed in a pneumatic press. The must is then transferred to barrels, where fermentation takes place using indigenous yeasts. After alcoholic fermentation, the wine undergoes full malolactic fermentation. Aging is carried out on fine lees for one year in oak barrels that have been used for one previous vintage, then the wine spends a second winter in oak, benefiting from prolonged contact with the wood. This approach helps develop the wine’s complexity while preserving its hallmark minerality.

Grape variety

Chardonnay (100%)