Pierre Girardin : Corton-Charlemagne Grand cru "La Croix" 2023

Characteristics and Tasting Notes of the Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru "La Croix" 2023 Pierre Girardin

Tasting

Colour
This white wine from France reveals a pale golden hue, subtly enhanced with delicate green highlights.

Nose
The aromatic bouquet opens with scents of white-fleshed fruit and flowers, harmoniously blended with buttery touches evoking pastry and roasted hazelnut. A mineral thread, reminiscent of chalk and wet stone, underscores the whole.

Palate
The attack is lively and full of freshness, introducing a mid-palate of great depth. The balance is remarkable between the generosity of the wine's texture and a crystalline tension, carried by a saline minerality. The finish stretches on at length, supported by beautiful acidity.

Food and wine pairing

This wine pairs wonderfully with shellfish such as lobster or langoustine, pan-seared foie gras, or noble fish like turbot or monkfish served with a creamy mushroom sauce. It also enhances Bresse poultry in a creamy sauce or certain blue-veined cheeses.

Service and storage

For optimal enjoyment of the Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru "La Croix" 2023, it is recommended to serve it at a temperature between 12 and 14°C. This wine, built for the long haul, needs a few years to reach full harmony and can be kept until around 2048.

Other characteristics

This cru stands out for its low pH and perfectly controlled acidity, the result of an early morning harvest.

The Elegance and Precision of a Great White Burgundy by Pierre Girardin

The estate

Founded in 2016 in Meursault, the Pierre Girardin estate embodies the renewal of winegrowing in Burgundy. Representing the thirteenth generation of his family, Pierre-Vincent Girardin, the current owner, has been able to assert his own vision from a very young age. At the head of a vineyard managed according to the principles of organic farming and biodynamics, he stands out for his innovative practices, such as very high trellising, to address climate challenges. The Pierre Girardin estate is now recognised for its minimal-intervention approach, revealing the authenticity of its terroirs with remarkable precision.

The vineyard

The Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru "La Croix" comes from two distinct plots located on the slopes of Ladoix and Pernand-Vergelesses, on the Corton hillside. Facing southwest to southeast, these vines, over 60 years old, thrive on steep slopes. The terroir consists of a limestone bedrock dating back to the Jurassic period, covered with chalky marl, offering ideal conditions for growing vines. The harvest is carried out exclusively by hand.

The vintage

The year 2023 began with a mild winter, followed by a vigorous spring marked by early flowering. Despite a frost threat in mid-April, the buds were spared. The rest of the season proved very favourable, combining beneficial rainfall in March with generous sunshine that encouraged vine development. After a minor hail event in July with no major consequences, harvesting began very early, at the end of August, under optimal weather conditions.

Winemaking and ageing

For this Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru "La Croix" 2023, vinification is carried out using whole-bunch pressing. After a gentle, slow pressing lasting around three hours, the must ferments and ages in new 456-litre oak barrels, custom-made. Ageing takes place in two stages: twelve months in wood, followed by six months in inert steel tanks to stabilise the wine. Bottled according to the lunar calendar, this cru is neither fined nor filtered, and rests under a natural cork sealed with wax.

Grape variety

100% Chardonnay.