Vineyards and winemaking
The Chardonnay for this Corton-Charlemagne comes from Grand Cru vineyards high on the hill of Corton in the Côte de Beaune. Vines of at least 15 years grow in the limestone and marl soils that give the appellation its combination of breadth, freshness and mineral structure, with the grapes harvested by hand.
After gentle pressing, the juice is settled and fermented in open wooden casks with indigenous yeasts and no temperature control. The wine remains on its lees before spending a minimum of two years in French oak, with only two or three gentle rackings each year, then passes by gravity from barrel to bottle without filtration.
Tasting notes
Appearance
Clear pale gold, beginning to show a little additional depth at the rim.
Nose
Ripe pear, baked lemon and quince are layered with chamomile, grilled almond and restrained notes of butterscotch and warm oak.
Palate
Broad and concentrated, with ripe orchard fruit and citrus oil held in check by firm, chalky acidity. Toasted almond and gentle spice add savoury complexity, while the substantial structure narrows into a long, mineral and lightly saline finish.
Food pairing
Its richness and scale suit roast turbot with beurre blanc, grilled lobster, roast chicken with tarragon, or scallops with cauliflower purée and toasted hazelnuts. A well-aged Comté also draws out the wine's nutty, savoury detail without overwhelming its freshness.
Background story
Vallet Frères traces its history to Pierre Bourée, who founded the family business in 1864. Now led by the fourth generation, Jean-Christophe Vallet, the house works both as a grower and a négociant, sourcing fruit from trusted Burgundian growers with whom it has longstanding relationships.
The family is among the small number of Côte d'Or producers still committed to such traditional cellar work. In the generous 2020 vintage, that slow élevage has produced a Corton-Charlemagne of power and texture, but the wine's mineral backbone gives it the balance and longevity expected of this Grand Cru.
