Checking Corton

R

Rahsaan

Rahsaan
Those of you with deeper cellars and more patience will probably say these were opened too soon. You’re probably not wrong, but I have no regrets. One wants to taste along the way without blindly cellaring for decades!

2009 Cornu Corton Bressandes
Elegant juicy yet firm fruit with an iron tannic note that evokes the Corton origins (at least to my suggestive mind). Neither a brooding shutdown red Burg nor a sloppy 2009. It strikes the middle quite nicely and for most of the evening is a delicious drink with dinner. However, late in the evening it shows its full range of potential as the fruit gets sweeter, darker and more tannic, while always remaining coiled and composed. Would love to have a case of this to follow.

2012 Chandon de Briailles Corton Blanc
The flavors are pretty basic golden apple pear. Nothing too crazy or mindbending. The texture speaks of distinction with ample fruit and firm sappy poise. It is certainly a pleasure to drink and a fine accompaniment to the meal. But I struggle with the price/value proposition. I wouldn’t mind having a case to follow and see what it can develop, but given all the extra risks with aging white Burgundy, that is unlikely to happen for me!
 
I have a few 2010 Cornu Cortons Bressandes and have been wondering how long to hold. Jadot Cortons (not Bressandes) seem to be virtually immortal. Also a few 2011 Tollot-beaut, same question. Also a 2007 Chandon de Briailles.

CdB has a very good rep with respect to oxidation, I believe. I have two bottles of their 2007 Corton Blanc, one of which I was contemplating earlier today.
 
originally posted by Ian Fitzsimmons:

CdB has a very good rep with respect to oxidation, I believe.
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Good to know.

Although the issue of value remains. And my personal calculations might make it harder to keep experimenting, even accounting for the fact that this particular one was perhaps not the best vintage/moment. At those prices one has so many other options.
 
originally posted by Ian Fitzsimmons:
I have a few 2010 Cornu Cortons Bressandes and have been wondering how long to hold. Jadot Cortons (not Bressandes) seem to be virtually immortal. Also a few 2011 Tollot-beaut, same question. Also a 2007 Chandon de Briailles.

CdB has a very good rep with respect to oxidation, I believe. I have two bottles of their 2007 Corton Blanc, one of which I was contemplating earlier today.
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Ian,

This might be of interest re your Corton blanc from ChdBr:
I opened a 2004 Chandon des Briailles Corton-Charlemagne a month or so ago and it was lovely (but miles to go before it sleeps). Fresh and still nascent. Lovely to drink now and no tired or tiring notes; simply delicious. I wish I had another to try in 5 years.
 
can't speak for corton blanc or CC (I drink them occasionally but haven't attempted to age any), but their idv blanc is definitely an outlier with its perfect no-premox record in my cellar; seriously, I can't recall a single bad bottle. I have absolutely no idea why this is, and shall not attempt to speculate at this time.
 
Rahsaan: Yes, value. Chicago wine company was blowing out 2007 CdB of all labels some many years ago at weirdly low pricing - maybe almost half off regular - and I bought a mixed case or 18. My Cortons are the vestigial remains - along with two bottles of Volnay Caillerets (which I think they don't produce any more, sadly).

Karen: Many thanks for the data. I believe the Corton Blanc and the Charlemagne are different beasts, and I envy you your shot at the latter. Latest note (2020) in CT suggests no hurry, and, with only two bottles, I may wait a bit yet.

Pavel: Glad I got it right.
 
originally posted by Ian Fitzsimmons:
Rahsaan: Yes, value. Chicago wine company was blowing out 2007 CdB of all labels some many years ago at weirdly low pricing - maybe almost half off regular - and I bought a mixed case or 18. My Cortons are the vestigial remains - along with two bottles of Volnay Caillerets (which I think they don't produce any more, sadly).
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I may or may not have obtained mine during the same sale; sounds about right. Coincidentally checked up on some of them last summer. Bressandes gorgeous, complete, you name it. IDV predcitably tight and cerebral in disorderly ways to the extent that anyone on disorder has any brain cells left. Caillerets was the one that surprised me - it was drinking beautifully a few years ago, but I found this bottle closed yet in no way in decline. Need another data point on the Volnay, but in no rush. My favorite vineyard in Volnay btw in any cellar I happed to visit, ever since the global warming memo was sent out by my HR department.
 
Ah, I'll dig out my lonely bottle of Bressandes later this year. I've yet to taste one that was in a good place, development-wise.

I opened one of the Caillerets a few years ago, mistaking it for an IdV and it was delicious. I'll hold the remaining for a while, based on your observation.

What's the joke about global warming and Caillerets? I won't really be able to fully enjoy the humor until you explain it.
 
originally posted by Ian Fitzsimmons:

What's the joke about global warming and Caillerets? I won't really be able to
fully enjoy the humor until you explain it.
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I'm guessing it's a reference to the fact that the vineyard faces east and might have been classified as one of the more 'elegant' Volnay wines in previous decades. Therefore, it has room to take the greater ripeness of global warming.
 
originally posted by Rahsaan:
originally posted by Ian Fitzsimmons:

What's the joke about global warming and Caillerets? I won't really be able to
fully enjoy the humor until you explain it.
Click to expand...

I'm guessing it's a reference to the fact that the vineyard faces east and might have been classified as one of the more 'elegant' Volnay wines in previous decades. Therefore, it has room to take the greater ripeness of global warming.
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The reference confuses me a bit. I can’t recall a time that Caillerets wasn’t generally the best site in the village. Maybe global warming has widened the spread?
 
I have only passing direct experience with it, but in my reading it's been extolled as one of the quasi-GC Volnays. In other words, one of the best, putatively. Can't cite authorities, though, because I haven't read any wine books for about seven years now. Coates? Kramer?

Thanks for explaining the joke, Rahsaan. I was finally able to enjoy a good laugh.
 
originally posted by Jayson Cohen:
The reference confuses me a bit. I can’t recall a time that Caillerets wasn’t generally the best site in the village. Maybe global warming has widened the spread?
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You are only confused because this is a Corton thread.
 
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