Corton 2018 Domaine de la Romanee Conti

Tasting Note Corton 2018

Among all of Domaine de la Romanée-Conti's's red wines, it is in this Corton that the oak nuances stand out the most. They blend harmoniously into the wine rather than dominating the palate. It is a medium-bodied wine with an alcohol content of 13.5%. The tannins reflect the firmness of very ripe yet very early-harvested grapes. Rather than being mellow, it has a solid structure that still powerfully reflects the characteristics of the red, pebbly soil of the Corton hills.

Grape Varieties

Pinot Noir, 100%.

The potassium-rich marl soil of the Corton hillsides is ideally suited to this variety.

Cellaring Potential

The concentration and tannins derived from fully ripe grapes give the 2018 Corton the structure necessary for long-term aging in the cellar. Enjoy it in a large glass at a temperature of 16-18 °C.

About Domaine de la Romanee Conti

Every vineyard of Domaine de la Romanee Conti is classified Grand Cru. There are no Village or Premier Cru vineyards, the one exception being Cuvee Duvault-Blochet, an occasional bottling from young vines and casks left out of the final blends. Around 25 hectares in total: Romanee-Conti and La Tache are monopoles, owned outright, alongside shares in Richebourg, Romanee-Saint-Vivant, Echezeaux and Grands Echezeaux, plus Montrachet and leased Corton and Corton-Charlemagne plots over in the Cote de Beaune. Pinot Noir for the seven reds, Chardonnay for the whites, grown from vine selections traced back to the Romanee-Conti vineyard itself. Soil is tilled by hand or with horses, and the estate went fully biodynamic in 2007, without putting a certification logo on the bottle. Yields sit at 20 to 30 hectolitres per hectare where 42 is permitted.

Terroir & Climate

Corton is situated on the limestone hill of Montagne de Corton, the summit of which is crowned by the Bois de Corton. This Grand Cru encircles an amphitheatre-shaped slope, the likes of which are found nowhere else in the Côte de Beaune, and extends across three communes: the east-facing plots are in Ladoix-Serrigny; the terroir then turns southwards in Aloxe-Corton and continues south-westwards into Pernand-Vergelesses. The vineyards are situated at an altitude of between 250 and 330 metres. Halfway up the slope, where the gradient levels off, the soil takes on a reddish hue and becomes stony, it is composed of brown limestone with marl deposits rich in potassium, and it is here that Pinot Noir thrives best. Corton is the only red Grand Cru in the entire Côte de Beaune, and its wines are renowned more for their density and structure than for their light body.

Winemaking

The entire grape cluster is placed in open wooden vats and fermented using the natural yeast present on the grapes. The wine is then aged in new oak barrels and bottled without filtration, so sediment may be found in older bottles. The yield is limited to 20-30 hectoliters per hectare, compared to the 42 hectoliters per hectare permitted by Grand Cru regulations. Less juice, higher concentration.

Food Pairing

Roast duck pairs well with this wine because the fat softens the tannins. Boeuf Bourguignon, the Burgundian standard, harmonizes with the wine's body without clashing. Mushroom dishes bring out the wine's earthy notes; porcini ragù and truffle risotto are prime examples. Époisses, a local specialty washed-rind cheese with a creamy texture that contrasts with the wine's acidity, also pairs well.