Domaine Michel Juillot : Corton-Charlemagne Grand cru 2022

Characteristics and tasting tips for the Corton-Charlemagne 2022 from Domaine Michel Juillot

Tasting

Appearance

The wine shows a brilliant yellow hue with golden highlights, which oak ageing will continue to refine over time.

Nose

The nose unveils a rich bouquet combining notes of white fruit and apricot with touches of almond and gentle spice, carried by generous oak reminiscent of vanilla. A mineral dimension and a few hints of citrus complete this aromatic palette, hinting at the depth of the Corton terroir.

Palate

On the palate, the wine is full and powerful, driven by a dense texture and a tension that structures the whole. The texture, enveloping thanks to complete malolactic fermentation, gives way to a long finish marked by minerality and citrus notes, at times almost tannic in feel.

Food and wine pairing

The estate recommends pairing this Grand Cru with capon in a cream and morel sauce. More broadly, this wine matches well with white meats in creamy mushroom sauces, as well as with noble fish or shellfish in sauce, and can accompany certain hard cooked-pressed cheeses such as aged Comté.

Serving and ageing

This Grand Cru is ideally served between 11 and 13 °C. It is advisable to decant it in order to fully reveal its aromas. It has fine ageing potential, allowing for a harmonious evolution over many years.

Corton-Charlemagne from Domaine Michel Juillot, a refined Chardonnay from the hill of Corton

The estate

Founded in 1928 by Emile Juillot in Mercurey, in the heart of the Côte Chalonnaise in Burgundy, Domaine Michel Juillot is today run by Laurent Juillot, the family's fourth generation, supported since 2020 by his son Pierre for the winemaking. The estate extends over 31 hectares spread across Mercurey, Rully and Aloxe-Corton, with a significant share of Premier Cru and Grand Cru vineyards. HVE3-certified, the domaine manages its vineyard with integrated pest management and favours indigenous yeasts, in a constant pursuit of respect for the terroir.

The vineyard

The parcel from which this Grand Cru originates is located in the commune of Aloxe-Corton, on the south-western slope of the hill of Corton, at a moderate altitude. The Chardonnay is planted there on clay-limestone soils combined with so-called Argovian clays, which give the wine minerality and depth. This exposure and substrate contribute to a slow ripening, conducive to a balance between richness and freshness.

Winemaking and ageing

For this Corton-Charlemagne, the grapes are hand-harvested and sorted on a table before being whole-bunch pressed. After static settling, the juice ferments in oak barrels with indigenous yeasts under temperature control. Malolactic fermentation is carried through to completion, then the wine is aged in barrels, with a significant proportion of new oak, before being fined prior to bottling.

Grape variety

This wine is made from Chardonnay, the emblematic grape variety of the great white wines of the Côte de Beaune.