2009 Domaine Bonneau du Martray Corton Grand Cru

The 2009 Corton is impeccably refined from start to finish. Endless layers of red fruit, flowers, licorice and sweet spices caress the palate in this impeccable, breathtaking red. This is an absolutely gorgeous, striking wine endowed with extraordinary textural finesse and elegance. Sweet, perfumed notes caress the palate on the rich, resonant finish. In 2009, the Corton is pure finesse and class. Ideally, the 2009 is best left alone for at least a few years, but readers will need to be disciplined, as the wine is already delicious, even today. Anticipated maturity: 2014+. Sometimes I wish Bonneau de Martray made more wines, as my tastings with Jean-Charles le Bault de la Moriniere are always much too brief. Readers will find wines of impeccable polish and class at this small domaine tucked in the hillsides of Pernand-Vergelesses. De la Moriniere told me that he hoped to make the red Corton once again available to the estate’s customers in the US, which is great news, although it hasn’t happened yet. According to de la Moriniere, 2009 was a year unlike any other he has seen for its consistent, uninterrupted good weather. The harvest started on September 9th. Yields came in at 39.4 hectoliters per hectare for the Corton-Charlemagne and 27.05 hectoliters per hectare for the Corton. The Corton-Charlemagne finished its malo in June 2010, while the Corton started its malo in May, 2010 and finished in August. Both of the 2009s were bottled in Spring 2011. By contrast, the 2010s were brought in beginning on September 23, after a year characterized by an irregular flowering that lowered yields and an equally variable summer with periods of rain and heat. Conditions improved markedly during the month of September. Yields of 30.50 hectoliters per hectare for the Corton-Charlemagne and 22 hectoliters per hectare for the Corton were the lowest ever recorded at the domaine with the exception of 2003. A Becky Wasserman Selection, Le Serbet, various American importers, including: Atlanta Wholesale Wines, Atlanta, GA; tel. (404) 696-9440; C’Est Vin, Arlington, VA; tel. (703) 243-3559, Scott Paul Wines, Oregon; tel. (503) 852-7300, Wines Unlimited, New Orleans, Louisiana; tel. (504) 897-0191

Bright and deep crimson. Real depth and vibrancy here. Bitter cherries. Bone dry rather than flattering which should become a really fine wine with time. All the elements are there. Fine tannins. Zest. Lots of fruit impact with a Beaune lift rather than Nuits grunt. Very promising. Very vital. (JR)

The 2009 Corton is impeccably refined from start to finish. Endless layers of red fruit, flowers, licorice and sweet spices caress the palate in this impeccable, breathtaking red. This is an absolutely gorgeous, striking wine endowed with extraordinary textural finesse and elegance. Sweet, perfumed notes caress the palate on the rich, resonant finish. In 2009, the Corton is pure finesse and class. Ideally, the 2009 is best left alone for at least a few years, but readers will need to be disciplined, as the wine is already delicious, even today. Anticipated maturity: 2014+. Aug 2012, www.robertparker.com