The 2024 vintage, particularly demanding in Burgundy, required constant vigilance against precipitation and disease pressure. In this context, limited yields allowed the estate to focus on the quality and maturity of the grapes. The Rapet family's Corton-Charlemagne vineyard includes plantings of different ages, some over fifty years old, on very steep slopes facing southwest. The shallow soils, composed of siliceous-limestone marls and friable rocks, contribute to the pronounced character of this cuvée. Hand-harvested and transported in small crates, the whole grapes undergo slow pressing, followed by low-temperature settling. Fermentation in wood and aging on lees then develop the texture of the Chardonnay, with a measured use of new barrels to preserve the expression of the terroir. This work accompanies the natural concentration of the grand cru while maintaining the energy and freshness that distinguish the estate's wines.
The 2024 Corton-Charlemagne promises to be a wine of depth and patience, whose personality should gradually reveal itself over the years. Its aromatic expression combines ripe citrus, pear, and white flowers with nuances of fresh hazelnut, almond, and rubbed stone. On the palate, the body has remarkable breadth but maintains a precise line, supported by acidity that runs through the tasting. The vintage brings particularly interesting freshness, while the terroir imparts a chalky and saline sensation that extends the finish. With aging, notes of honey, dried fruits, and soft spices should enrich its bouquet without erasing its structure. This great white deserves several years in the cellar before reaching its full expression and has the qualities necessary to continue evolving well beyond. Roasted lobster, turbot with beurre blanc, veal sweetbreads with morels, or Bresse chicken with cream will make pairings worthy of its depth.
Grape variety: 100% Chardonnay
