Jean Chartron : Corton-Charlemagne Grand cru 2021

Characteristics and tasting advice for the Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru 2021 from Jean Chartron

Tasting

Appearance

The wine shows a pale golden-yellow color with subtle green highlights, typical of a young Chardonnay from a cool-climate site.

Nose

The nose reveals remarkable aromatic complexity, with notes of honeysuckle, linden blossom, hazelnut and honey. Citrus aromas (lemon, lime, orange zest), white fruits (apple, pear, peach) and white flowers mingle with a pronounced minerality reminiscent of stone and slate. Well-integrated toasty and vanilla nuances complete this complex bouquet, which with aeration evolves toward notes of toasted almonds.

Palate

The palate stands out for its power and broad, structured mouthfeel. It delivers remarkable richness while retaining a mineral freshness that brings tension and definition. Bright acidity structures the whole, ensuring perfect balance between concentration and vibrancy. The texture is both generous and fresh, with a fine minerality running through the tasting. The finish lingers at length, with mineral and lemony impressions persisting—hallmarks of this exceptional grand cru.

Food and wine pairings

This Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru 2021 pairs beautifully with fine shellfish and white-fleshed fish in a creamy sauce. It matches perfectly with saffron-roasted langoustines, sole with lemon butter, a pike mousseline or crayfish in a light broth. Creamy poultry dishes with mushrooms—especially morels—also make an excellent pairing. For cheese, opt for soft-ripened cheeses such as Camembert or Brie, fresh goat’s cheeses, or cooked pressed cheeses like Comté and Beaufort. Delicately prepared foie gras is also a refined match.

Serving and cellaring

The Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru 2021 can be enjoyed now while offering outstanding aging potential. This wine can evolve gracefully for one to two decades in the cellar, gradually developing notes of honey, almond and brioche. The finest bottles can continue to improve for up to twenty to twenty-five years under optimal storage conditions.

A Burgundy grand cru combining power and minerality on the heights of Corton-Charlemagne

The estate

Founded in 1859 by Jean-Edouard Dupard, a master cooper and wine merchant, Domaine Jean Chartron has been passed down through five generations in the heart of Puligny-Montrachet, in Burgundy. Today, Jean-Michel Chartron and his sister Anne-Laure Malassagne run this 14.5-hectare family estate spread across twenty-three appellations. Since 2004, the estate has practiced organic viticulture without official certification, favoring meticulous soil work and precise vineyard management. The estate holds three prestigious monopoles, including Clos des Chevaliers in Chevalier-Montrachet. With an average vine age of forty years, Jean Chartron produces Burgundy white wines renowned for their authentic expression of terroir and exceptional aging potential.

The vineyard

The Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru occupies the upper slopes of the Montagne de Corton, north of Beaune in the Côte de Beaune. Situated between 280 and 330 meters above sea level, it is the highest grand cru in Burgundy. The vines thrive on steep 20% to 23% slopes facing south, southeast and southwest, benefiting from optimal sunlight. The soils are made up of pale limestone stones over a limestone base, alternating with marly subsoils beneath a thin layer of rendzine. This mineral composition and natural drainage give the wine its hallmark mineral tension and bright acidity. The appellation covers around 52 hectares across three communes: Aloxe-Corton, Pernand-Vergelesses and Ladoix-Serrigny.

The vintage

The 2021 vintage in Burgundy was marked by a rare, intense episode of winter frost affecting vineyards across France. A milder spring allowed flowering at the end of May, followed by particularly rainy months of June and July. Weather instability was observed from mid-July to mid-August. Despite these contrasting conditions, the Bureau Interprofessionnel des Vins de Bourgogne highlighted the very fine aromatic complexity of 2021 white wines—explosive on the nose—whose diversity of aromas remarkably reflects the characteristics of each terroir.

Winemaking and aging

The grapes for the Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru 2021 are harvested by hand and then carefully sorted. Fermentation takes place in oak barrels with temperature control, followed by malolactic fermentation. Aging is carried out over 14 months in French oak barrels, with 30% new oak and 70% barrels previously used for one to five wines. This balanced proportion allows subtle extraction of toasty and vanilla notes without masking the expression of the terroir. The wine then rests for around 4 months in stainless-steel tanks to encourage integration and natural clarification. After light fining and minimal filtration, the wine is bottled.

Grape variety

100% Chardonnay