Joseph Drouhin Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru White Wine

Overview

Joseph Drouhin Corton-Charlemagne is a Grand Cru Chardonnay from one of Burgundy's most prestigious white wine appellations. The vineyard occupies a commanding position on the hill behind Aloxe-Corton, with Drouhin's source facing due east on brown limestone soils scattered with small stones. The 2022 vintage combines richness and concentration with balance, freshness and significant ageing potential.

Vintage

2022 delivered excellent maturity and particularly aromatic white wines. Citrus and ripe fruit mingle with delicate floral fragrances and lightly spiced pastry notes. The wines show a tender, fleshy palate built around strong texture, with roundness, a rich aftertaste and excellent ageing potential.

Vineyard

Corton-Charlemagne extends across Aloxe-Corton, Ladoix-Serrigny and Pernand-Vergelesses. Its name carries a distinctive history: “Corton” derives from the Gallo-Roman Curtis d'Othon, meaning the Domaine of Othon, while Emperor Charlemagne is traditionally associated with ownership of the vineyard.

Winemaking

The wine is made from grapes and musts purchased from supply partners according to Joseph Drouhin's rigorous specifications. Grapes are harvested by hand in open-work crates and carefully sorted when necessary. Slow pneumatic pressing separates the final press juice from the free-run juice before transfer to barrel following light settling.

Alcoholic fermentation, malolactic fermentation and ageing take place in oak barrels. The wine matures for 18–21 months in French oak, with approximately 30% new barrels.

Producer Tasting Notes

Véronique Boss-Drouhin: “One of the greatest wines of Burgundy, to be tasted with awe and reverence. It has an intense golden hue. On the nose, there are some subtle tones of rose, fresh almond, citrus, honey, exotic wood and spice. Majestic and well balanced on the palate. Generous and lively at the same time. Intense and complex aftertaste. … A wine of undeniable majesty.”

Critic Reviews

92–96/100 — Jasper Morris, Inside Burgundy
Tasted November 2023

James Suckling
“Powerful and refined at the same time, it’s an age-worthy wine that’s already tempting to drink. Generous apple, white peach and lime aromas give way to stony, flinty and tight flavors backed by nervy acidity that will need time to unravel. One of the truly great sites for chardonnay in the Cote d’Or, and this comes from 50-year-old vines. Best from 2028.”
Tasted June 2024

Specifications

• Vintage: 2022
• Grape Variety: Chardonnay
• Region: Corton-Charlemagne, Côte de Beaune, Burgundy, France
• Classification: Grand Cru
• Production Attributes: Hand harvested
• Fermentation: Alcoholic and malolactic fermentation in oak barrels
• Maturation: 18–21 months
• Oak Type: French oak, approximately 30% new