2022 Bouchard Le Corton Grand Cru

“This magnificent parcel is in a long strip below the wood of Corton and above Clos du Roi and Renards, right on the limestone. The 2022 Bouchard Corton boasts concentrated mulberry and black plum fruit aromas, hints of violets and liquorice, and sweet oak spice. The texture is velvety and dense, with supple tannins and a pleasantly persistent finish underscored by a saline mineral note. Despite the location of the vines near the top of the slope, the grapes were picked early; 40% of the crop was fermented as whole clusters. This wine should open up in five to seven years and drink for another 25 beyond that.” Drink 2027 - 2055

“An exceptionally elegant and subtle wine for this Grand Cru with silky tannins and a breathtaking interplay of red fruits, floral and wild herbs. This has the tannic power we expect from this appellation, but in a plush and restrained form. That core is wrapped in a velvet blanket, but the dominant aromas are dark and earthy, with touches of licorice or pine bark. Super long, compact and earthy finish. This masterpiece has enormous ageing potential. From a 3.55 hectare parcel on shallow red-clay soil that’s almost next to the forest at the top of hill and faces east.“

“The 2022 Le Corton Grand Cru is another highlight of the range, mingling aromas of sweet cherries, berries and plums in a complex bouquet, followed by a medium to full-bodied, deep and layered palate that’s dense and structured but beautifully refined, concluding with a long, penetrating finish. This emblematic cuvée has always been a solid bottling chez Bouchard, but in the last few years it seems to have attained a whole new level of quality. When I asked Frédéric Weber what might account for this shift, he explained that he picks later and includes more whole bunches in the vinification. Whatever the reason, readers are advised to take note, as I don’t think the market has yet factored in quite how good this wine is.”