Joseph Drouhin : Corton-Charlemagne Grand cru 2023

Characteristics and tasting tips for Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru 2023 by Joseph Drouhin

Tasting

Appearance
This white wine displays an intense golden hue, enhanced by brilliant gold highlights.

Nose
Powerful and complex, the bouquet blends subtle floral and rose notes with indulgent aromas of yellow fruit, citrus, fresh almond and honey. With aeration, delicate hints of spice and precious wood emerge.

Palate
Ample and majestic, the palate offers a silky, almost creamy texture. It captivates with its perfect balance between generous substance and a lovely tension that brings freshness. The fruity, honeyed flavours stretch into a finish of great intensity, long and complex.

Serving and cellaring

This Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru 2023 is best enjoyed at a temperature of 14°C. Built for ageing, it will reach its optimal drinking window between 8 and 15 years after the harvest, and can be cellared until around 2043.

The elegance and aromatic richness of a Corton-Charlemagne from Burgundy

The estate

Founded in 1880 in Beaune, Maison Joseph Drouhin is an iconic name in Burgundy, France. Now run by the founder's four great-grandchildren, representing the fourth generation, the house looks after an extensive vineyard of nearly 100 hectares stretching from Chablis to the Mâconnais. A pioneer at heart, the estate was an early adopter of organic farming, followed by biodynamics, driven by the desire to find natural answers to the challenges of viticulture. This respectful approach reveals the diversity and finesse of Burgundy's terroirs with remarkable precision.

The vineyard

The Corton-Charlemagne terroir lies on the famous hill of Corton, overlooking the villages of Aloxe-Corton, Ladoix-Serrigny and Pernand-Vergelesses. The estate's vines enjoy a due east exposure, capturing the morning sun while avoiding the excessive heat of the afternoon. Planted at altitude on a steep slope, the vineyard rests on brown limestone soils scattered with small blond and ochre pebbles. This free-draining, heat-regulating terroir is farmed according to biodynamic principles, with controlled yields to express the full purity of the site.

The vintage

2023 stands out as one of the hottest years on record in the region, even exceeding the temperatures of the previous vintage. Despite this intense heat, the growing cycle brought the berries to perfect ripeness. The weather conditions favoured a healthy harvest, yielding sun-drenched grapes while preserving a lovely natural freshness, essential to the balance of the wines.

Vinification and ageing

To craft this Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru 2023, the grapes are harvested by hand into perforated crates. In the cellar, the whole bunches undergo slow, gentle pneumatic pressing, with rigorous separation of the final press juices. After light settling, alcoholic and malolactic fermentations take place in French oak barrels, 30% of which are new. The wine then undergoes meticulous ageing for 18 to 21 months, punctuated by regular tastings to fine-tune each intervention and preserve the finesse of the cru.

Grape variety

Chardonnay (100%).