2015 Corton Charlemagne

(100% from the Aloxe side as the Pernand side of this grand cru was totally frosted): Bright, light yellow. Very reticent but pure scents of lemon zest, menthol and wet stone convey outstanding calcaire energy. Tactile and energetic, displaying an exhilarating balance of sweet and saline elements. The impression of sucrosité gives the middle palate a creamy richness but the intense nectarine fruit comes across as extremely primary and fresh. Finishes with outstanding palate-dusting minerality and rising length. Not at all austere owing to its tactility, but this wine should nonetheless age slowly and gracefully.

Cask sample. Five barrels of 350 litres in 2015. 2003 onwards. Half from Pernand (high) and half from Aloxe (mid). Picked the same day and blended in the press. Lots of years they have hail on the Pernand part (which was frosted in 2016). ‘2015 was a good vintage for this appellation’, says PYCM. Some good, rich but nervy density here. An excellent interpretation of this appellation. Electric almonds. Lots of race but richness too. Picked last. (JR)

The 2015 Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru is very fine, offering up notes of preserved citrus, white peach, toasted nuts and petrol. On the palate, the wine is full-bodied, concentrated and powerful, with a deep core and serious structural musculature, juicy acids, and a long, chewy finish. This is notably deeper and more complete than it showed from barrel in the fall of 2016, which seems to confirm Pierre-Yves's observation that in his experience Corton-Charlemagne is one of the wines that benefits most from long elevage. Apr 2018, www.robertparker.com