1991 Corton Charlemagne

The 1991 Corton-Charlemagne from Domaine Leroy needs at least 10 years of cellaring. It is a candidate for 25-30 years of aging. Huge and massive, with great density, it is totally unevolved, with a reticent bouquet. The power, weight, and density are something to behold, but this is an infantile, backward wine that should be purchased only by consumers with cold cellars and plenty of patience. If you had a child born in 1991 and want a Chardonnay grand cru for his or her 21st birthday, this would be a great choice. Lalou Bize-Leroy produced some remarkable 1991 white burgundies. Yields averaged only 9 hectoliters per hectare in her Chardonnay vineyards and alcohol levels averaged 13.5%. These wines will be the longest-lived whites of the 1991 vintage. Importer: Martine's Wines, San Rafael, CA.