Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru - Chardonnay (21) DM

Chardonnay | Grand Cru, origineel aangeplant met Pinot Noir, sinds 2005 met Chardonnay | lieu-dit 'Pougets' | 1,02 ha | vergisting en rijping op eikenhout, 40% nieuw | daarna 4-6 maanden op rvs gerijpt | rijk en diep | grandeur | royaal | stenig | verveine | ook reductie | mild steenfruit | power | een jaargang die zich leent gedronken te worden, maar ook zeker nog lang kan liggen

Domaine de Montille 

Dit uit de 17 eeuw stammende wijngoed staat onder regie van Etienne en Alix de Montille. Het duo produceert wijnen uit iets meer dan 20 verschillende appelaties in de Bourgogne. Waar papa in de jaren '80 en '90 zich mocht rekenen tot een van de de allerbeste Pinot Noir producenten op deze aardbol pakken broer en zus Montille het veel breder aan. Zo werd Château de Puligny-Montrachet gekocht met een enorm sterk portfolio wijngaarden (vooral Chardonnay) en starte Alix haar eigen negocé (Maison Montille). Sinds onze start in de samenwerking proefde we in de oogst van 2014 wit en rood 2011 al een enorme positieve ontwikkeling door. Alix getrouwd met JM Roulot in Meursault richt zich steeds meer op de witte wijnen. 

Review

The 2021 Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru comprises just one-third as much fruit as in 2022 and demanded twice as many treatments. It is just missing a bit of presence on the nose, with hints of white flowers and honeysuckle. The palate is well balanced with fine acidity, orange pith and hints of white peach and touches of white tea towards a very elegant finish. Hopefully, the aromatics will awaken by the time of bottling. 91-93/100 Neal Martin

Purchased in 2004, this 1.02 hectares parcel was planted at that time to Pinot Noir under the appellation Corton "Pougets". It seemed to us that the soil, composed of yellow marl with light brown clay and small gravel was a soil better adapted to the production of great white wines. The decision was made in 2005 to graft over with Chardonnay in the higher part of the 35-year-old vineyard. The lower and older portion was ripped out and replanted.

"Corton" comes from "Cort is Ottoni", the royal domaine of Otton the Great, Charlemagne's grandson who became Otton the First, King of Germany and France after his coronation in 936 in Aix-la-Chapelle. It is said that Charlemagne gave this vast vineyard to the abbey of Saint Antoche de Saulieu in 775. The monks decided to call the vineyard "Charlemagne" to thank their benefactor.

The 2017 Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru comes from Les Pougets and matures in just under 30% new oak. This has a vivacious and tensile bouquet with orange zest and Japanese yuzu aromas that burst from the glass. The palate is well balanced with a fine bead of acidity, quite taut for a Corton-Charlemagne but it is graced with impressive balance. The spicy finish is welcome. This is a finally crafted Grand Cru. 92-94/100 Neil Martin