Bouchard Père & Fils : Corton-Charlemagne Grand cru Domaine 2021

A rich and powerful Corton-Charlemagne white wine

The estate

Founded in 1731 in Beaune, Bouchard Père & Fils is one of the oldest wine houses in Burgundy. For nearly three centuries, 9 generations have taken over, one after the other, with the same ambition: to create an exceptional estate in Burgundy.

Gradually built up over the years, the vineyards of the Bouchard Père et Fils estate now cover 130 hectares of vines. Combining prestigious appellations with exceptional plots, the Bouchard Père & Fils vineyard constitutes a unique wine heritage in Burgundy.

The vineyard

This cuvée is a Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru wine that stems from a 3.65 hectares of vines facing east on a clay-limestone soil, mainly limestone.  

According to legend, this appellation, which was very popular with Charlemagne, was at that time planted exclusively with Pinot Noir. It was only at the end of the emperor's life that the south-facing plots were planted with Chardonnay, to produce a white wine that would not stain his luxuriant beard. In 1909, Bouchard Père & Fils acquired 60% of the "Le Corton" land (6.93 ha), which has the rare characteristic of being able to be planted with Pinot Noir as well as Chardonnay. Today, Bouchard Père & Fils is the third largest owner of Corton-Charlemagne (51.68 ha).

Winemaking and ageing

After being harvested by hand and meticulously sorted, the grapes are pressed in two phases: evacuation of the first juices, then pressing in two-hour cycles. The wine is then aged in French oak barrels for 12 to 14 months, depending on the vintage, with up to 20% new barrels. The wine then begins an ageing phase in the cellars of the Bastions of the old Château de Beaune thanks to a natural hygrometry and constant temperatures.

Blend

Chardonnay (100%)

Characteristics and tasting tips for the Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru Domaine 2021 from Bouchard Père & Fils

Tasting

Nose
The nose is intense, developing fruity and grilled notes which mingle with mineral touches typical of this appellation.

Palate
Rich and powerful, the palate has a defined personality.

Storage

This red wine can be laid down until 2031.

To serve

Serve between 12°C and 14°C.

Food and wine pairing

This wine pairs perfectly with fish in sauce and langoustines.