2017 Chandon de Briailles Corton-Bressandes Grand Cru, Cote de Beaune

The Bressandes vineyard straddles both the Aloxe side of Corton (on skeletal soils), and the Ladoix side (with more clay-rich soil) and CdB has 1.12 hectares of vines here, spread across four separate parcels. Today, the vines average 35 years old and in 2016 yielded 22 hl/ha—very little but at least something! Bressandes is typically a primordial Corton; an intense wine with lots of meaty depth, a tightly coiled, mineral palate and a structure that begs to be cellared. This 2017, however, is a different beast entirely: a lithe, velvety Bressandes bursting with raspberry and strawberry sweetness that brings sexy back to Corton!  Again, the Domaine retained 80% whole bunches, and the wine was mostly raised in four-year-old oak with a new Stockinger barrel in the mix. Magic.

“A slightly riper array of deeply pitched aromas includes notes of cassis, warm earth, game and soft spice wisps. The mouthfeel of the moderately more concentrated flavors is finer as well with excellent richness yet the balanced, long and mouth coating finish manages to retain a lovely sense of energy and delineation. This too should drink reasonably well young if desired.” 

“The 2017 Corton Bressandes Grand Cru is lovely, wafting from the glass with notes of dark fruits, nori, licorice, rich soil, blood orange, rose hip and dark chocolate. On the palate, the wine is full-bodied, ample and satiny, its fine-grained tannins largely concealed in a gourmand core of succulent fruit, concluding with a saline, mineral finish. Long on complexity and character, this is a terrific Corton Bressandes.”