Joseph Drouhin : Corton Grand cru 2019

Tasting characteristics and advice for Joseph Drouhin’s Corton Grand Cru 2019

Tasting

Color

The color shows remarkable depth, characteristic of the great Pinot Noirs from the Corton appellation.

Nose

The bouquet is powerful, revealing aromas of candied fruit and spices that intensify with aeration.

Palate

The palate offers a harmonious structure, without any harshness. Its velvety texture brings the richness needed to balance tannins and acidity. The candied-fruit notes sensed on the nose carry through on the palate, creating beautiful aromatic consistency. The finish lingers at length, ending on a complex and persistent note.

Food and wine pairings

This Corton Grand Cru 2019 pairs beautifully with feathered and furred game. It also matches elegantly with roasted or grilled red meats, notably bone-in beef ribs and braised lamb. For cheese, opt for Époisses and other washed-rind cheeses, whose powerful flavors harmonize perfectly with the wine’s structure.

Serving and cellaring

Corton Grand Cru 2019 is ideally enjoyed at a temperature of 16°C. Its optimal drinking window is between 15 and 25 years, with aging potential reaching approximately 2059.

A Burgundy Grand Cru with powerful aromas and a silky structure

The estate

Founded in 1880 by Joseph Drouhin in Beaune, the House of Joseph Drouhin now oversees approximately 100 hectares of vineyards in Burgundy. Since 2003, four great-grandchildren of the founder have jointly run this family House: Frédéric (President), Véronique (in charge of winemaking), Philippe (vineyard management) and Laurent (export director). A pioneer in sustainable viticulture, the House became in 1996 Burgundy’s largest biodynamic producer. A member of Primum Familiae Vini, it embodies Burgundian excellence through nearly 90 different appellations.

The vineyard

Corton is one of the most prestigious appellations in the Côte de Beaune. The vineyards of Maison Joseph Drouhin are managed under certified biodynamic farming, with respectful practices including horse plowing, cover crops and natural composting. High-density planting, reaching up to 12,500 vines per hectare, encourages deep rooting and limits yields, thereby enhancing the expression of terroir. Harvesting is carried out entirely by hand, in ventilated, perforated crates to preserve the integrity of the fruit.

The vintage

The 2019 vintage follows in the footsteps of the great Burgundian vintages ending in 9. This year offered generous conditions that made it possible to reach outstanding ripeness. A particularly healthy harvest, with perfectly ripe stems, enabled a winemaking approach favoring whole clusters. Phenolic ripeness in Pinot Noir proved very high, comparable to the best recent vintages, giving rise to wines that are ample, silky and full of finesse.

Winemaking and aging

The grapes for Corton Grand Cru 2019 were harvested by hand in ventilated crates, with meticulous sorting. Winemaking favored a proportion of 20 to 50% whole clusters. Fermentation and maceration took place over 2 to 3 weeks in small open-top vats, with punching down the cap and regular pump-overs. Indigenous yeasts were used to enhance the expression of terroir. Aging was carried out for 16 to 20 months in carefully selected French oak barrels, around 30% of which were new. Every decision was made after careful tasting and technical analysis, with absolute respect for the expression of terroir and the character of the vintage.

Grape variety

100% Pinot Noir.