2000 Corton Charlemagne

“My 2000 Corton-Charlemagne needs to age at least 50 years ... we will all be eating dandelions by the roots when it is ready to drink,” announced Mme. Bize-Leroy as she poured it into my glass. Intense aromas of poached pears, toasty minerals, and butter can be found in its complex aromas. A wine of exceptional concentration (its dry extract levels must be impressive!), it is hugely rich, lush, and dense. Buttered popcorn, ripe pears, and cashews are found in its medium to full-bodied, profound personality. While some readers may opt to heed Mme. Bize-Leroy’s half-century of cellaring recommendation, I would suggest drinking it over the next 15 years. Madame Lalou Bize-Leroy liked both the 2000 and 2001 vintages, stating that she was “rather pleased with the 2001s as they will bring lots of joy to those who drink them young” and that the 2000s “are candied fruit, reduction of fruit, the essence of fruit.” Many Burgundians chose to bottle their 2001 early in order to “trap” the fruit in the bottle, but Bize-Leroy beat them all to the punch, having completed the bottling process by early September, 2002. Typically an early bottler, Mme. Bize-Leroy felt that the 2001s would lose their fruit to either oxidation or the required sulfuring if left in the barrel for a longer elevage. Overall, Domaine Leroy’s 2001s are a success, though many were found to reveal stemmy, woody tannin in their finishes. If this characteristic melts away quickly, my scores on those wines will appear overly conservative. Importer: Martine’s Wines, San Raphael, CA; tel. (415) 883-0400