Vineyards and winemaking
This Grand Cru is made from Chardonnay grown on the upper slopes of the hill of Corton in the Côte de Beaune. The fruit is selected from vines at least 15 years old, rooted in the appellation's limestone and marl soils, and is harvested by hand to retain its natural freshness and precision.
The pressed juice is allowed to settle before spontaneous fermentation in open wooden casks without temperature control. Extended time on the lees is followed by a minimum of two years in French oak, with infrequent racking, after which the wine is bottled directly from barrel by gravity and without filtration.
Tasting notes
Appearance
Bright pale gold with youthful green-gold reflections.
Nose
Fine and measured, opening with lemon peel, green pear and white flowers before chamomile, wet stone and subtle toasted oak emerge with air.
Palate
Taut and structured, with citrus and firm orchard fruit running through a cool, stony core. Lees ageing brings breadth without blunting the acidity, while delicate hazelnut, savoury spice and a touch of butterscotch lead into a clean, persistent finish.
Food pairing
Serve with dressed crab, Dover sole in brown butter, chicken with a light morel cream sauce, or a leek and Gruyère tart. Its combination of tension and gentle oak also works beautifully with roast monkfish and crushed new potatoes.
Background story
Established by Pierre Bourée in 1864, Vallet Frères remains a family-run Burgundy house under Jean-Christophe Vallet. The family owns important vineyards in Gevrey-Chambertin, including the monopole Clos de la Justice and vines in Charmes-Chambertin Grand Cru, while its négociant work extends its reach into the Côte de Beaune.
The more restrained 2021 profile gives this Corton-Charlemagne a particularly classical shape. The house's patient, low-intervention cellar methods build texture around that natural freshness, resulting in a serious white Burgundy that can be enjoyed for its precision now or allowed to develop further in bottle.
