Olivier Leflaive Corton Charlemagne Grand Cru 2022 75cl.

Grapes: 100% Chardonnay

100% harvested by hand in small perforated boxes to preserve the integrity of the clusters and prevent premature oxidation. Delicate extraction of whole clusters followed by cold static decantation (débourbage) to purify the must from coarse lees. Vinification with native yeasts in French oak barrels, naturally completing 100% of the malolactic fermentation to soften its tactile texture. Prolonged maturation for more than a year in barrels (with 30-35% new oak), accompanied by bâtonnage controlled at the beginning to provide complexity and volume. Final transfer to stainless steel vats during the last months prior to gravity bottling, enhancing its citrus precision and mineral tension.

View:

It presents itself with a bright golden yellow color and impressive depth. Subtle greenish flashes and steely reflections can be seen on the rim and edges of the glass, an unmistakable sign of the great vitality of the 2022 vintage and of a wine conceived for a very long evolution in the bottle. Completely crystalline, clean and shiny appearance, which denotes absolute rigor in the vinification and clarification processes. The tears are dense, glyceric and fall slowly. When you shake the glass gently, it draws marked and persistent arcs that reflect the high dry extract content, the concentration and the imposing tactile structure of this Grand Cru.

Nose:

It stands out for its overwhelming complexity. Initially it shows a sober and austere profile that opens slowly and elegantly as the wine gently oxygenates in the glass. Notes of white and stone fruit with a firm and clear character dominate, such as green Granny Smith apple, water pear and lemon peel zest. They are intertwined with subtle floral nuances of great finesse. The French oak wood (with a measured use of 30-35% new barrel) acts as an invisible frame, providing notes of toasted hazelnut, fine butter and fine strands of tempered brioche, perfectly melted without overpowering the fruit. The core of the nose is deeply calcareous. Notes of wet chalk, flint stone (silex), flint and a marked iodized breeze that provides a vertical and severe dimension very characteristic of Corton Hill emerge strongly.

Mouth:

The entry is majestic, wide, dry and with a resounding muscular impact. It fills the palate immediately with superb density and an imposing presence. Despite its colossal concentration and large volume, the wine surprises with its straightness. The power of the solar vintage is balanced in a millimetric way with a backbone of electric, sharp and vibrant acidity, which provides an alpine freshness and an impeccable linear structure. It has an eminently calcareous and austere feel, with a firm texture that conveys the purity of the white marl and active limestone soils of the upper part of the hill. The finish is extraordinarily long, deep and persistent, lasting for several minutes on the palate and leaving a sensation of total harmony, dryness and cleanliness. Upon expiration, memories of candied citrus, toasted nuts and a prolonged, saline and chalky echo reappear with intensity.