2013 Corton Charlemagne
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Tasting notes
Drouhin does both a domaine and négoce cuvée from this appellation and this is the négoce cuvée. (The domaine planting, which is what the UK mainly gets, says ‘proprietes de la famille Drouhin’ on the label and is from Les Languettes climat.) From bought-in grapes with a little bit of must. Spicy and that almond flavour again. Edgy. (JR)
Critic scores
Average Score
The Wine Advocate
Julia Harding MW, jancisrobinson.com
More reviews and scores
Pale, bright yellow. Lemon oil, wild herbs, vanilla and oak char on the nose (but this aged in the same 30% to 40% new oak as the other grand crus here). Very rich, plush and sweet, but showing surprising energy to its flavors of ripe apple, ginger and dusty minerality. This is actually the lowest in acidity of the 2013 grand crus here, at 3.9 grams per liter. Finishes with plenty of ripe tannins.
The 2013 Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru was affected by a little hail but it was the coulure that reduced the crop down to just three barrels. It has a very lifted bouquet, very opulent and ostentatious and you can forgive it for that. Wonderful delineation and intense yellow plum, Mirin, white peach and mineral scents that swarm from the glass. The palate is very well balanced with impressive weight in the mouth, the acidity finely tuned and a finish that has something almost Napa in terms of its audacity (and that is meant positively not negatively.) Chapeau!
About the producer
Joseph Drouhin is one of the largest and most famous producers in Burgundy, making both domaine and négociant wines. It remains family-owned and run, now in the hands of the fourth generation.