2013 - Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru, Joseph Drouhin

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!

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.