There are four plots one lower down, one above and two in the middle, all vinified and matured separately. During elevage the middle plots seemed to be the best, the lower section good, while the wine from the top block appeared to be too acid. But it is now clear to Aubert that the blend needed them all, including the top, which was raised in one year old wood, the rest in new barrels. The wine took its time, both for the alcoholic and malolactic fermentations, so the Corton-Charlemagne was bottled later than the Montrachet. A first bottle was extrovert but soon evidence of a slight cork taint appeared. The second bottle was clean, if not quite so immediately exuberant. This is chiselled and fine with wonderful length. The stones are more apparent and they are washed with a fresh citrus. Clean pure and classy with real grip, there is power behind and the fruit totally fills out the back of the palate. A brilliant first offering of Corton-Charlemagne.

There is enough wood to point out surrounding the mildly exotic and phenolic aromas of dried white and yellow orchard fruit that possess intricate nuances of spice, Asian-style tea, fennel, floral wisps and wet stone. I very much like the highly seductive texture of the caressing and beautifully concentrated mineral-driven big-bodied flavors that display stunningly good length on the very dry and impeccably well-balanced finale. This gorgeous CC should age gracefully for the next 12 to 15 years and drink well for twice that long. A great first effort! (Drink starting 2031)

2019 was DRC’s first vintage of Corton-Charlemagne and this is a hugely impressive start. The grapes were harvested after all of the Pinot Noir, contributing to a fleshy, weighty and dramatic expression of the grand cru. Aubert de Villaine explained that they used all three vineyard components in the blend with the grapes from the highest elevation adding all important freshness. As with all DRC wines, there is an impeccable balance here, in this case between fruit ripeness, notable acidity and the lingering, mineral, stony aftertaste of the finest Corton-Charlemagne.

The 2019 Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru is the debut release of this new cuvée from Domaine de la Romanée-Conti, produced from almost three hectares of vineyards, in the communes of Aloxe-Corton and Pernand-Vergelesses, that have been leased from Bonneau du Martray since November 2018. Unfurling in the glass with aromas of citrus zest, pear and preserved peaches mingled with wheat toast, sesame oil, vanilla pod, beeswax and smoke, it's full-bodied, rich and textural, with a ripe, enveloping core of fruit that's framed by lively acids and chalky structuring extract. Concluding with a long, saline finish, it reflects the domaine's vision for Chardonnay—picked at full maturity, in a powerful, gastronomic style—while remaining more tightly coiled and mineral in style than its Montrachet stablemate.- WK

The 2019 Corton-Charlemagne is the debut release from vineyards DRC controls through a long-term lease with Bonneau de Martray. It's a gorgeous wine packed with Charlemagne signatures. Lemon peel, white flowers, sage, mint and crushed rocks are all finely knit together, supported by insistent minerality and admirable delineation. I love the energy, precision and cut here. Needless to say, it will be fascinating to see what DRC does here. The 2019 is impressive to be sure, but I have to think that even more will be possible here in the coming years. - By Antonio Galloni on June 2022