Bouchard Père & Fils : Le Corton Grand cru Domaine 2020

This magnificent parcel is 3.55ha in a long strip below the wood of Corton and above Clos du Roi and Renards, right on the limestone. The grapes are one-third fermented as whole clusters and then aged in 25% new casks to produce a very aromatic nose with expressive red and black fruits, floral notes, pepper and spice. On the palate the wine is tightly wound, with firm tannins but lots of finesse and a fine acidity that carries this to an impressive finish.

There's nothing shy about this uncompromising expression of the 2020 vintage. Dark, meaty and peppery on the expansive nose, this Corton has imposing structure, but has been beautifully crafted. So well proportioned, in spite of its mighty stature. The crushed-stone minerality builds and builds to a serious crescendo at the finish. From organically grown grapes. Drinkable now, but best from 2024.

The 2020 Le Corton Grand Cru has an open-knit bouquet, possibly with some stem addition, slightly tertiary red fruit with a light loamy element that emerges with time in the glass. This has real complexity and terroir expression. The palate is medium-bodied with fine-boned tannins and dark berry fruit laced with tea leaf and black pepper, exhibiting more grip than some of its peers towards the finish without any of that vintage's heat. This is a serious Corton, though it should age well in bottle. Tasted blind at the Burgfest tasting.

Admirable nose, with peony notes, remarkable textural elegance, fresh, airy tannins, great pedigree, great future. A must in this exceptional vintage. The house seeks here the elegance linked to the limestone subsoil, which sets it apart from other climats of the Corton cru.

The wine has a medium-intensity ruby color. The nose is deep, concentrated and complex. It offers a generous, juicy fruit profile (ripe morello cherry, wild strawberry, raspberry coulis, blueberry jam, roasted red cherry), combined with pronounced yet well-integrated woody and roasted notes (toasted oak, toast, toasted hazelnut, mild coffee), refined and fragrant spicy touches (licorice, toasted vanilla, peppercorns, nutmeg, clove), as well as a subtle herbal side (dried mint, pine needles). There is also a delicate floral bouquet that appears after aeration (fresh rose, cornflower, violet, lily). On the palate, the wine is perfumed, juicy, enveloping and complex, offering precision, freshness and finesse. It delivers flavors of very ripe morello cherry, chocolate-covered cherry, crushed wild strawberry, raspberry coulis, redcurrant jelly, blueberry jam, along with a delicate spicy edge (toasted vanilla, clove, cumin, licorice, fresh nutmeg, a hint of cinnamon in the background), combined with notes of dark chocolate, mild coffee, mint chocolate, caramelized hazelnut and a fine floral bouquet (fresh rose, violet, lily, peony). Lively, crisp acidity; the finish is persistent, broad, gourmand and refined, lingering on notes of chocolate-covered cherry, dried mint and toasted almond. Elegance, indulgence and complexity that should develop over years. Good ageing potential.

Poised with elegance, the wine has seductive layers of black cherry and oak spice. Pulverized black-pepper spice lands on the front of the palate and leads into a finish of fresh black cherries, mushroom and soil. The wine is sophisticated and refined.