The vine

• Plot /climat

  "En Charlemagne" but the red wines from this location are simply named "Corton Grand Cru".

• History

  It is said that the emperor Charlemagne in 775 A.D. donated a vast vineyard located on the Corton hill to the holy order of the Saulieu collegiate.

• Soil

  This grand cru is planted on land consisting in a limestone bedrock and a soil mixture of "chaillots" (a flint, silica and limestone deposit) and fine clay.

• Our plot(s)

  17 ares at an altitude of 280 meters, planted in 1963.

• Age of vines

  • Planting date Surface
  • 1963 17.30a

The wine

• Description

  100% Pinot Noir from handpicked grapes; raised in oak casks.

• Taste

  Bright ruby-red in colour, it has a range of complex aromas of red fruit and fresh spices ; in the mouth it combines a rich, tannic structure with harmony and elegance together with good length.

• Serving temperature

  15/16°C. Recent vintages may be decanted to enhance the aroma.

The vintage

• Year 2021 : down in history for frost. The frost which hit the French winelands was the worst ever experienced. Our domain was seriously struck with a yield equivalent to a third of a normal grape harvest. The frost early in April, slowed down the growth rate of the vine which took time to recover in addition to which the season was marked by frequent periods of rain , beneficial for the life of the vine but complicating the control of mildew and oidium. It was not an easy season to manage right up to harvest time as from 18 September when again spells of rain did not facilitate matters ; nevertheless, healthy grapes were selected after careful sortation on picking and before processing such that on monitoring the maturity of the wine , its equilibrium is surprisingly satisfactory. The red wines are bright , ruby coloured, supple and delicate in the mouth with a touch of small , red fruit on the nose.