2017 Domaine Rapet Père & Fils Corton-Charlemagne

The 2017 Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru offers attractive, mineral-rich aromas of yellow flowers, honeysuckle and orange pith, gathering intensity with aeration. The taut, linear palate is very well balanced with a fine bead of acidity and a delicate touch of spice toward the finish. It just misses the fatness, the gras -like element, that one seeks in Corton-Charlemagne, though it feels persistent.

With the 2017 Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru, Rapet has produced his finest white since 2014. The wine opens in the glass with a classy nose of ripe lemons, green apple, white flowers and crushed chalk, framed by subtle hints of oatmeal and beeswax. On the palate, it's full-bodied, deep and layered, with excellent concentration and broad shoulders, but also promising structural tension and reserve. The long, chalky finish is penetrating and intense. This is well worth seeking out.