2010 Corton Charlemagne

The 2010 Corton-Charlemagne shows a wine still in transition, something that is plainly clear after having tasted the 2011, which today has more potential. This is a pretty, refined Corton-Charlemagne with plenty of textural finesse and appeal, just not the true pedigree and excitement of a grand cru. De Montille’s parcel in Corton-Charlemagne is composed of 60% new plantings (from 2006) and 40% regraftings. The 2010 is made only from the regrafted parcels, while the highly promising 2011 was made from both the regrafted parcels and new, younger vines. Anticipated maturity: 2014+. Etienne and Alix de Montille have done quite a bit of work to simplify and streamline their lineup following their purchase of the Chateau de Puligny-Montrachet. There will now be three distinct lines; all of the entry-level wines will be marketed under the Chateau de Puligny-Montrachet label, while all of the top appellations will be sold under the Domaine de Montille label. The Deux Montille range of negociant wines will be used to fill out the offering, but the number of wines will be streamlined to allow the winemaking team to have greater focus. As for the 2010s, they are just as fabulous as I thought they would be when I tasted most of the wines from barrel last year. This is the type of year in which Alix de Montille excels, and she certainly captured the essence of the vintage with these current releases. Various American importers, including: Martin Scott Wines, Little Neck, NY; tel. (516) 327-0808

Pale green-yellow color. Soil-driven aromas of ginger, quinine, flowers and spices, with fruits in the deep background. Dense, full and ripe, with a leesy nuance adding interest to the citrus and mineral flavors. Very dry and long wine, even if it doesn't dance on the palate quite like the Cailleret does today. This will need at least several years in bottle to come into harmony.

The 2010 Corton-Charlemagne shows a wine still in transition, something that is plainly clear after having tasted the 2011, which today has more potential. This is a pretty, refined Corton-Charlemagne with plenty of textural finesse and appeal, just not the true pedigree and excitement of a grand cru. De Montille’s parcel in Corton-Charlemagne is composed of 60% new plantings (from 2006) and 40% regraftings. The 2010 is made only from the regrafted parcels, while the highly promising 2011 was made from both the regrafted parcels and new, younger vines. Anticipated maturity: 2014+. ||Etienne and Alix de Montille have done quite a bit of work to simplify and streamline their lineup following their purchase of the Chateau de Puligny-Montrachet. There will now be three distinct lines; all of the entry-level wines will be marketed under the Chateau de Puligny-Montrachet label, while all of the top appellations will be sold under the Domaine de Montille label. The Deux Montille range of negociant wines will be used to fill out the offering, but the number of wines will be streamlined to allow the winemaking team to have greater focus. As for the 2010s, they are just as fabulous as I thought they would be when I tasted most of the wines from barrel last year. This is the type of year in which Alix de Montille excels, and she certainly captured the essence of the vintage with these current releases.||Various American importers, including: Martin Scott Wines, Little Neck, NY; tel. (516) 327-0808 eRobertParker.com.August, 2012