The vine

• Plot /climat

  Charlemagne (covers 3 villages: Aloxe-Corton, Ladoix-Serrigny and Pernand-Vergelesses)

• 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

  The bedrock of this grand cru is limestone and the topsoil consists in fine clay mixed with "chaillots", the name given for flint and silica-limestone deposits.

• Our plot(s)

  Several plots, in all 91 ares, situated halfway up the Corton hill in the Pernand-Vergelesses commune, facing south west at an altitude of between 280 and 380 meters and planted in 1940, 1960,1965, 1955, 1994, 2007 and 2015.

• Age of vines

  • Planting date Surface
  • 1940 13a
  • 1960 11.16a
  • 1965 25.57a
  • 1971 3.44a
  • 1988 10a
  • 1994 1.84a
  • 2007 15.24a

The wine

• Description

  100% Chardonnay from handpicked grapes, produced in oak casks.

• Taste

  Rich in colour with a greenish golden hue; impressive, complex aromas of white and citrus fruit with a slight spicy touch. Firstly mineral, in the mouth it has strength, round and silky with good persistence.

• Serving temperature

  12/14°C. Recent vintages may be decanted to enhance the aroma.

The vintage

• 2022: a year of relief for winemakers. The first buds came out earlier in March due to the mild weather, and thankfully the spring frost from April 9 and 10 did not cause any damage to the buds. Spring was hot and dry, making 2022 wines what we would call a premature vintage. By the end of June, the lack of rain started to be a concern. This was shortly followed by heavy rain showers, which despite some localised hail, generated just about enough water for the rest of the summer. The heatwave put the vines under strain but the drought was less damaging than in 2020, which allowed us to harvest grapes in perfect condition. Sunshine comes through this 2022 vintage, with expressive fruit flavours on the whites. We harvested the Chardonnay grapes early, from August 27, in order to preserve the freshness of the fruit. During tasting, the 2022 white vintage is prominent with elegance and delicate flavours in the mouth.