Appellation d’origine contrôlée
corton-charlemagne
Corton Charlemagne
The Corton-Charlemagne appellation includes the Charlemagne appellation, which is no longer claimed. Production municipalities: Aloxe-Corton, Ladoix-Serrigny and Pernand-Vergelesses for Corton-Charlemagne and Aloxe-Corton and Pernand-Vergelesses for Charlemagne.
Category : Appellation Grand Cru
Wine-growing region: Côte de Beaune vineyards
Creation of the appellation: 31 July 1937
Colour / grape variety: White wines exclusively, Chardonnay grape variety.
Catégorie : Appellation Grand Cru
Région viticole : Vignoble de la Côte de Beaune
Création de l’appellation : 31 juillet 1937
Couleur / cépage : Vins blancs exclusivement, cépage Chardonnay.
Area under production* :
1 hectare (ha) = 10,000 m² = 24 works
White: 59.77 ha
Récolte moyenne annuelle** :
1 hectolitre (hl) = 100 litres = 133 bottles
Whites: 2,203 hl (292,999 bottles)
*en 2022 ** moyenne 5 ans 2017-2021
Appellation Grand Cru de la Côte de Beaune, in the Côte-d’Or (AOC).
The Corton-Charlemagne appellation includes the Charlemagne appellation, which is no longer claimed.
Production municipalities: Aloxe-Corton, Ladoix-Serrigny and Pernand-Vergelesses for Corton-Charlemagne and Aloxe-Corton and Pernand-Vergelesses for Charlemagne.
Pale gold in its youth with green highlights, Corton-Charlemagne takes on amber and more yellow hues with age. The bouquet is infinitely delicate, with buttery notes of baked apple, citrus fruit, pineapple, lime blossom, fern, juniper, cinnamon and flint. Notes of honey are frequent. Leather and truffles accompany older vintages (up to 25-30 years).
character of the wines.
The glass and palate are filled with a powerful blast. With its virulent richness, the Chardonnay here surprises with its concentration, distinction and balance. Rarely has the grace of the grape variety forged such a close link with the character of its terroir.
location
On the border between the Côte de Nuits and the Côte de Beaune, leaning towards the Côte de Beaune at an altitude of between 280 and 330 metres, Corton-Charlemagne has a large south-westerly exposure (rare in the Côte de Beaune). High and rounded on its three wine-growing sides, the Montagne de Corton brings together the villages of Aloxe-Corton (Climat Le Charlemagne), Pernand-Vergelesses (Climat En Charlemagne) and Ladoix-Serrigny (some Climats in whole or in part: Pougets, Corton, Languettes).
This vineyard was donated by Emperor Charlemagne in 775 to the collegiate church of Saint-Andoche in Saulieu. It will remain part of this heritage for a thousand years! Corton-Charlemagne, which still celebrates the emperor with the flowery beard, brings together the Climats Charlemagne and En Charlemagne as well as a number of neighbouring Climats that have been federated under this banner (the AOC Grand Cru dates from 31 July 1937). Unlike Corton, the name of the Climat does not appear on the label. Map : bourgogne-maps.fr
Terroirs
On steep slopes (20 to 23%) and on the highest part of the Montagne de Corton, which offers a perfect geological cross-section (younger Jurassic terrain between Ladoix-Serrigny and Meursault, 145 million years old), marly soils of varying colour (yellowish, ochre, brown), rich in clay. Limestone banks alternate with marl under a thin layer of rendzine. The Corton (mainly red) is produced at mid-slope on very different soils.
Climats classified as Grand Cru
Basses Mourottes, En Charlemagne, Hautes Mourottes, Le Charlemagne, Le Corton, Les Languettes, Les Pougets, Les Renardes
Sommelier’s advice
with the whites
Serving temperature: 12-14° C
The breath, richness and distinction of the Corton-Charlemagne appellation reveal a remarkable acidity, perfectly controlled by a round opulence on the palate, which should be paired with noble, delicate dishes that are themselves powerful and aromatic. The natural candidates are foie gras, whose bitterness is framed by the minerality and power of the wine, and, more traditionally, noble shellfish, whose delicately strong flesh creates a spectacular harmony: lobster, crayfish, crab… Poultry and veal in white sauce will also do it proud, as will blue cheeses.