Olivier Leflaive : Corton Grand cru "Clos du Roi" 2017

Characteristics and Tasting Tips for the Corton Grand Cru "Clos du Roi" 2017 from Olivier Leflaive

Tasting

Appearance
The wine shows a beautiful red colour.

Nose
Highly complex and intensely aromatic, the nose releases scents of ripe cherries, plums and forest floor. The whole is delicately underscored by fine spicy notes and a subtle touch of toasted new oak.

Palate
Full-bodied and fleshy, the palate captivates with its volume and generous texture. It offers a ripe acidity, perfectly balanced by powdery tannins of great finesse. The finish stands out for its remarkable length and depth.

Food and Wine Pairing

This wine pairs wonderfully with pan-seared or grilled duck breast, enhanced by a red wine and chocolate sauce. It will also be an ideal companion to roasted game birds, tender red meats in sauce, or firm cooked-pressed cheeses such as an aged Comté.

Serving and Cellaring

For optimal enjoyment, we recommend serving this Corton Grand Cru "Clos du Roi" 2017 at a temperature between 17 and 19°C, with an optional one-hour decanting while it is young. This wine can be enjoyed now and will continue to evolve favourably, with a drinking window until around 2031.

The Power and Complexity of a Corton Grand Cru Crafted by Olivier Leflaive

The Estate

Although the family's roots in Puligny-Montrachet, Burgundy (France), go back to 1717, the House of Olivier Leflaive was officially founded in 1984. This hybrid estate now farms twenty-six hectares of its own vines. A pioneer of regional wine tourism, the estate is distinguished by its uncompromising quality standards and meticulous parcel-by-parcel approach. Today, day-to-day management is overseen by Jean Soubeyrand, the current president, while the founding family continues to guide the strategic direction of this institution.

The Vineyard

The Climat "Clos du Roi" lies on the famous hill of Corton, within the commune of Aloxe-Corton. Facing south and south-east, at an altitude of between 270 and 320 metres, the forty-year-old vines benefit from the natural shelter of the Bois de Corton. This historic terroir, cultivated since the 7th century, rests on Bathonian limestone marl soils that are particularly rich in iron. For this vintage, the vineyard was managed according to the principles of sustainable viticulture.

The Vintage

The year began with a cold, dry winter, followed by a rapid warming at the end of March that encouraged an early start to the vine's growth cycle. The mild, ideal weather of the summer season allowed the grapes to reach perfect ripeness, leading to an early harvest at the beginning of September with impeccable fruit health.

Winemaking and Ageing

The grapes for this Corton Grand Cru "Clos du Roi" 2017 are hand-harvested, meticulously sorted, then fully destemmed. Fermentation takes place in open vats with a maceration period of sixteen days. The wine is then aged for fifteen months in oak barrels, 30% of which are new, followed by three months in stainless steel tank before the final blend.

Grape Variety

100% Pinot Noir