2009 Corton Charlemagne

The 2009 Corton-Charlemagne, always a middle of the road performer at the domaine, was surprisingly outstanding, and had no problem being served after the two flagship grand crus. Stylistically, Roumier has worked to give the wine more focus and delineation, and that served him very well in 2009. Rich and textured, the Corton-Charlemagne, deftly balanced the generosity of the year with plenty of vibrant, incisive minerality.

The 2009 Corton-Charlemagne melds gorgeous textural richness and depth with a vibrant expression of fruit that shows considerable freshness. The wine turns increasingly explosive on the palate as the fruit continues to emerge. All of the elements build nicely to the intense, totally alive finish. Roumier’s parcel is on the western edges of Charlemagne, near Pernand-Vergelesses. Anticipated maturity: 2014-2019. My visit with Christophe Roumier was one of the highlights of the two weeks I spent in Burgundy earlier in the year. The range of 2009s is simply extraordinary, and the 2008s aren’t too far behind. Most of the 2009s were in tank, awaiting imminent bottling. Roumier began harvesting on September 12. Importer: Diageo Chateau & Estate Wines, Napa CA; tel. (707) 299-2600