2022 Corton Charlemagne, Grand Cru, Domaine Bouchard Père et Fils i trækasse

Aromas of pear, green apple, white flowers and wet stones introduce the 2022 Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru, a deep, medium to full-bodied wine that's taut, chiseled and racy, with excellent depth at the core and an abundance of chalky structuring extract. As usual, it derives from the domaine's holdings on the Ladoix side.

The Bouchard holding in Le Corton is made up of white marl on top of limestone slabs, and protected by the forest from the evening sun. Pale lemon and lime. The nose is slightly backward, delicate little flowers, but with the correct stony, almost gravelly aspect. Some riper fruit notes putting their heads above the parapet. A significant saline character too, behind. Drink from 2030-2038.

This is an incredible plot of 4 hectares at the top of the hill, right up there with the breezy winds that descend from the north. The nose is spectacular with rose hips, peaches, rising bread dough and toasted almonds. Sweet yellow plums and scents of rain drops hitting warm stones mix in on the palate, too. The harmony is divine already, and the liveliness is eye opening.

The Bouchard Corton Charlemagne reflects the vintage in an impressive wayùit is a powerful wine, impressively substantial, long and almost fat in the mouth. Yet there is also an elegance and finesse to the wine that brings it into dynamic equilibrium, with aromas of ripe apple, apricot and hazelnuts and accents of hawthorn and hay. The grapes come from the domaine's superb four-hectare holding at the top of the slope, where recent studies with Françoise Vannier confirm 50 û 60 cm of yellow marl and limestone pebbles above the bedrock, explaining the delightful fresh acidity even in a warm year, such as 2022.

The nose of this very beautiful Corton-Charlemagne transports me to an Alpine meadow, when all the wild flowers are blossoming. I love the restrained, citrusy richness that is effortlessly interwoven with the stony minerality on the medium- to full-bodied palate of this graceful, yet highly-structured wine. Still quite tight at the very salty finish, but so much to give. From a 3.65 hectare plot at the very top of the hill of Corton, directly below the forest with a yellow mark soil. From organically grown grapes. Drinkable now, but best from 2025.