By: AJ McClellan
Yesterday was a day to remember! The day we got to try the 2.28 Ha Corton DRC from the 2012 vintage! I am a huge fan of Corton, I think they make some of the most beautiful and elegant whites and reds in all of Burgundy. With DRC being the pinnacle of wines I was very anxious to taste their attempt of the renowned Corton.
The bottle was opened with reverence and anticipation… The first taste was poured… And disaster! All I got from the wine was steams, tannins, wood, and bell pepper. It was horrible! Not to be discouraged however, we decanted the wine and prayed for the best….
DRC is known for their heavy handedness when it comes to new oak. You have to realize that these wines are designed to age for decades and are rarely approachable, even with a vintage as great as 2012. This vintage was made from three Grand Cru vineyards of Corton, Clos du Roi, Bressandes, and Renardes. All vineyards were acquired in 2008 and the first vintage of Corton Rouge by DRC was bottled in 2009.
After an hour of swirling the wine in my glass the Corton finally started to show some signed of life! Brilliant black cherry and fresh cut grass after a rain came from the glass. Then, after another hour in the glass the wine finally bloomed. The nose was full of black and red currants, cherries, and plums. There was a rustic note of crushed limestone and freshly cut pine. Hints of brown sugar with curls of dark chocolate linger on the finish and notes of flowering violets completed the end of the wine.
While this bottle was just a child and giving up nowhere near the nuances it will with time, I was very pleased with it in its youth. A great bottle, and a great day!