2017 Corton Charlemagne
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Tasting notes
The 2017 Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru is excellent, unwinding in the glass with aromas of sweet citrus oil, beeswax, white flowers and oyster shell. On the palate, the wine is full-bodied, layered and satiny on the attack, with considerable concentration and structuring dry extract, succulent underlying acids and a long, chalky finish. From the south-facing climat Les Languettes, this is one of the highlights of Drouhin's 2017 portfolio.
Critic scores
Average Score
Neal Martin, Vinous
William Kelley, Wine Advocate
More reviews and scores
Very attractive wet stones and a wealth of hazelnuts and ripe, fresh and expressive lemons and white peaches. The palate has beautifully complete, fleshy texture, really seamless and underpinned by stony, powerful terroir-driven structure. Exceptional Corton-Charlemagne here. Drink or hold.
The 2017 Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru comes from the climat of Les Languettes and was picked on September 2. It has a rather mild, perhaps conservative bouquet that does not quite deliver the complexity I might have expected from a Grand Cru. The palate is better, featuring a taut, quite stony opening, a little salinity in the mouth and touches of black currant leaf and walnut toward the finish. Maybe it will offer more once bottled. [I notice that Stephen Tanzer finished his own tasting note wondering whether he underrated it. Without previously seeing his note, it would seem that I, too, expected a little more.]
Clean bright pale lemon colour, a touch of banana fruit on the nose. This is very intense at the front of the palate and then stretches through to the back, with good acidity, fresh apples, joyous, with very good long intense aftertaste. Beautifully balanced with a sensual perfume returning at the end.
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.