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Corton Charlemagne 2006 75cl

AOC Grand Cru | Côtes de Beaune | Burgundy | France
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Critics scores
94 Robert Parker
Jean-Charles Le Bault de Martray has established a singular track record for wine from a single large parcel in the heart of the original Charlemagne vineyards of Corton. His distinctive methods typically include separate fermentation of each vineyard block; a year in barrel with late summer malolactic; and a full six months on the fine lees in tank, in which state I tasted his 2006 Corton-Charlemagne. An architect by training, Le Bault de Martray values -brightness, precision and proportionality- and it is easy to see those virtues exemplified in this wine, characterized by clarity, subtlety, firmness of structure, and sheer refreshment unusual for the vintage. Scents of fresh lime, heliotrope and white peach usher in a subtly-creamy yet persistently bright and juicy display of continued citrus, peach, and inner-mouth floral notes. Airy and elegant, this finishes almost delicately but tenaciously. Le Bault de Martray cautions that his Corton-Charlemagne virtually uniformly -shuts down- for several years soon after bottling. I would recommend planning on revisiting this 2006 in 3-5 years and it should repay at least an additional decade's bottle maturation. The palpable extract and depth of sweet-saline, savor in the 2005 put it in a similar league and in line for a similarly long life.
94 Wine Spectator
A whiff of chalk dust, along with a vanilla note, introduces this intense white. Flavors of peach, grapefruit and oak spice persist through the finish, with a mineral streak. Powerful and balanced, with a lingering aftertaste. Best from 2011 through 2024. 450 cases imported. –BS .
Producer
Domaine Bonneau du Martray
Arguably the most celebrated producer of Corton-Charlemagne, it is the only estate in Burgundy to exclusively produce wine from Grand Cru vineyards. The extremely elegant yet personable Jean-Charles le Bault de la Mornière is currently at the helm of this formidable estate. He took over in 1994 when his uncle, Comte Jean le Bault retired, having run the estate from 1969 to 1993. The vineyards were originally purchased following the French Revolution, and they have remained in the family ever since. The original size covered 24 hectares, however it has been reduced over the years to its current size of 11 hectares, 9.5 being in Corton-Charlemagne, while the remaining lie in Corton and are consecrated to producing the domaine's red wine, though the white remains the star of the duo.