2017 Benjamin Leroux Grand Cru Corton-Charlemagne, Cote de Beaune

Leroux’s 2017 Corton-Charlie comes from two sources. The first is a postage stamp-sized 0.12-hectare plot in En Charlemagne on the Pernand side of the hill, where the vines were planted in the late ‘70s. To this Leroux included a parcel of fruit from Les Languettes, a cool site in Aloxe-Corton wedged between Pougets and Le Corton. This looked terrific in barrel and I don't hesitate to call this Leroux’s finest, most mineral CC to date.

“A gorgeously fresh, airy and cool nose combines notes of green apple, white flowers, wet stone and a pretty array of spice elements, all of which is trimmed is soft wood toast. There is a notably refined mouth feel to the tautly muscular and overtly mineral-driven medium weight flavors that possess focused power on the impressively long finale. As example from both En Charlemagne and Les Languettes often are, this is not a big wine by the standards of the appellation but the naturally intrinsic refinement and minerality are very much present.” 

Ben Leroux combines fruit from En Charlemagne in Pernand-Vergelesses and Les Languettes in Aloxe-Corton to produce his textbook Corton-Charlemagne, which marries power with elegance and minerality. Richly textured yet racy, it has taut acidity and fine, spicy oak.”