Bouchard Père & Fils : Le Corton Grand cru Domaine 2018

In 2018 the picking began on 5th September and yielded a rich, ripe red and black berry fruit character, yet there was no sense of excess, and the wine retained a pleasant freshness despite the heat. The tannins are firm, the texture rewardingly dense, and the finish is long. Produced from the large parcel purchased from the Moyne Jacqueminot family with an east-southeast exposure, just below the portion dedicated to Chardonnay.

A firm, linear red with ripe strawberries and raspberries and some hazelnuts and citrus rind. It’s medium- to full-bodied with lightly chewy tannins and a flavorful finish. Tight at the end. Drink after 2022.

The 2018 Le Corton Grand Cru has an upfront, ripe red cherry and crushed strawberry nose that feels a little monotone against its peers, perhaps due to some Brettanomyces. It would benefit from more delineation. The palate is medium-bodied with dry tannins, mealy, and slightly attenuated toward the finish. This is a perplexing showing. Tasted blind at the Burgfest 2018 red tasting.

The 2018 Le Corton Grand Cru has turned out very nicely in bottle, offering up a deep and complex bouquet of cassis, wild berries, grilled meats, black truffle, blood orange and sweet forest floor. Medium to full-bodied, deep and muscular, it's layered and concentrated, with powdery tannins, lively acids and a long, sapid finish. While this is a powerful, structured wine, it's also very refined, and this is one 2018 that will offer a broad drinking window.