With the close of summer, it has been a little quiet in the Front Room, but this mid-week brought us a cool blinder for us to try. Corton Grand Cru vs Corton Charlemagne Grand Cru in 2011, by Domaine de Montille. Both wines were spectacular in their own expression and it was really interesting to try them blind, side by side.
The Corton had more bold, warm tones, with a lively nose and more extraction on the palate. Flavors of golden apples, brown pear, brown butter, warm vanilla, creamed corn. Rich, powerful texture that coats the mouth’s perimeter with a stellar, lengthy finish; this was ready to roll straight from the bottle.
The Corton Charlemagne was not as intense as the first wine. More focused in texture, mineral driven flavors of crushed chalk, flint, limestone and wet rocks. Soft under-ripe white pineapple, white peach, crunchy green apples, lime blossoms, apple blossoms, citrus zest, touch of brine. Killer flinty finish. This would be the grand cru to cellar long term; with its laser-like precision, ripping acidity and bullet-proof structure.
