Edouard Delaunay, Corton Charlemagne 2019

Gorgeous golden yellow colour. Superbly rich, complex, intense nose boasting fine, elegant oak, notes of acacia blossom, toasted almonds and frangipane followed by scents of candied fruit, angelica, bergamot, almond, and baked goods (kugelhopf). Starts off magnificently on the palate boasting roundness, depth and sucrosity that are balanced by fresh acidity. Flavours of yellow stone fruit (mirabelle plum), fresh herbs and rose. This is an extremely complex, elegant, expressive wine. The finish features a slightly mineral touch of flint.

Founded in 1893, the house of Delaunay became a prestigious and prolific estate and was one of the sole distributors of DRC and exclusively of La Romanée until the 1940s. Sold to Jean Claude Boisset in the 1990s, the maison was reborn in 2017 when winemaker and fifth generation, Laurent Delaunay, purchased back the name, winery and cellars next to the family home, Chateau de Chaumont. Laurent and wife Catherine have accessed some excellent vineyard sites across the Cote d’Or, including a gem in Petit-Vougeots, and right up to Griottes-Chambertin.

The largest and most accessible of the Côte de Beaune’s white Grand Crus and the only one located north of the town of Beaune. The Corton-Charlemagne appellation covers the upper part of the southern side of the Corton hill. Its full southern exposure, from southeast to southwest, is rather unique in Burgundy.