Bouchard Père & Fils : Corton-Charlemagne Grand cru Domaine 2018

Tasting Notes and Advice for the 2018 Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru Domaine from Bouchard Père & Fils

Tasting

Color

The color reveals a pale gold hue with distinctive green highlights, characteristic of Chardonnay in its youth and of the freshness preserved during winemaking.

Nose

The bouquet stands out for its remarkable intensity, combining aromas of yellow and white-fleshed fruits such as pear, green pineapple and white peach. These fruity notes are accompanied by grilled and toasted touches from ageing in oak barrels, bringing nuances of vanilla and marzipan. Minerality is a fundamental pillar of the aromatic identity, expressed through notes of flint and gunflint, a faithful reflection of the limestone terroir of the Corton hillside.

Palate

On the palate, this wine is rich, powerful and broad-shouldered, with a harmonious structure that conveys striking elegance. The attack is fresh and well balanced, while the creamy, generous texture retains a vibrant freshness supported by present acidity that is never aggressive. The aromatic persistence on the finish is exceptionally long, with flavors that gradually evolve toward saline and mineral notes.

Food and wine pairings

This Corton-Charlemagne is an ideal match for shellfish in sauce, such as saffron-roasted langoustines, lobster, or crayfish in court-bouillon. It also pairs perfectly with delicate fish such as Dover sole with lemon butter, turbot in a white sauce, or monkfish with beurre blanc. Characterful soft and hard cheeses also make excellent pairings.

Serving and cellaring

This Bouchard Père & Fils Corton-Charlemagne can be cellared until at least 2038. A minimum of around ten years of patience is recommended for optimal enjoyment.

A white Burgundy grand cru with mineral character and elegant power

The estate

Founded in 1731 by Michel Bouchard, a draper from the Dauphiné, Bouchard Père & Fils stands as one of Burgundy’s oldest houses. The estate now spans 98.7 hectares certified organic, spread across 77 climats of the Côte d'Or. Since 2022, the property has belonged to François Pinault via Artémis Domaines. The estate holds exceptional parcels, notably the Beaune Grèves Vigne de l'Enfant Jésus monopole, as well as grand crus in Montrachet, Chevalier-Montrachet and Corton-Charlemagne.

The vineyard

The Corton-Charlemagne vineyard occupies the upper slopes of the Corton hillside between 280 and 330 meters in altitude, making it the highest of the grand crus of Bourgogne. This commanding position benefits from an east-southeast exposure and late-afternoon shade from an adjoining forest, helping to maintain a welcome natural freshness. The soils comprise brown, stony limestone over a limestone base, along with marl and clay layers—an ideal composition for the development of Corton-Charlemagne’s distinctive minerality.

The vintage

The 2018 vintage unfolded under exceptional weather conditions, marked by remarkable abundance and excellence. After an unusually mild winter, two periods of moderate water stress proved beneficial. These conditions produced a very healthy crop of outstanding quality, with wines offering a lovely balance and an aromatic profile of flowers and ripe fruit. The grapes reached optimal concentration without excessive overripeness.

Winemaking and ageing

The harvest for this Bouchard Père & Fils Corton-Charlemagne is carried out by hand in small 13 kg crates, with meticulous sorting of each bunch. Pressing takes place in two distinct stages: first the removal of the initial juices, then pressing in two-hour cycles, allowing the best juices to be selected. Ageing is carried out in French oak barrels, 25 to 30% new oak, for 16 to 20 months, with the final three to four months in large-capacity foudres.

Grape variety

100% Chardonnay.