Corton Charlemagne Grand Cru – Domaine Pierre Vincent

Vineyard

Grape variety: Chardonnay

Surface: Charlemagne 0.2807 ha & En Charlemagne 0.1928 ha

Planted: 1966 (Aloxe-Corton) and 1947 (Pernand-Vergelesses)

Soil: Ideal proportions of limestone and clay

Orientation: Southwest (Aloxe-Corton), Northwest (Pernand-Vergelesses)

The soils are tilled then grassed over. Minimum treatments. Manual harvest with systematic sorting. Precise choice of harvest date based on maturity checks.

This climat is situated at the top of Corton hill, under the wood of the same name. Charlemagne is said to have gifted this land to monks in 775. Legend has it that his wife suggested planting white grape vines to prevent his beard from being stained red when he drank wine too quickly.

Vinification

Long, gentle pneumatic pressing, followed by overnight settling

Alcoholic fermentation partially in stainless steel vats, then transferred into barrels (20% new) for malolactic fermentation

Aged for 12 months in barrels, then racked into stainless steel vats and aged for another 6 months before bottling