Domaine Bonneau du Martray : Corton-Charlemagne Grand cru 2022

Characteristics and Tasting Notes of the Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru 2022 from Domaine Bonneau du Martray

Tasting

Color

This white wine displays a bright, radiant color, with a concentrated appearance that hints at the ripeness and richness of the vintage.

Nose

The nose unfolds with notes of stone fruit and orchard fruit, enhanced by hints of nutmeg, iodine, freshly baked bread and vanilla pod. Delicate floral touches of chamomile and dried flowers add further complexity, while nuances of marzipan bring a subtle, gourmand dimension to the aromatic profile.

Palate

The palate is full-bodied, satiny and seamless, revealing remarkable depth and layered texture. A beautiful mid-palate plenitude is supported by lively acidity and a chalky, structuring extract that brings tension and verticality. Soft, enveloping contours surround a core of apricot and ripe pear, leading to a long, persistent finish.

Food and wine pairings

This Corton-Charlemagne pairs beautifully with refined seafood dishes, such as roasted lobster or langoustine, as well as with fine fish like turbot or sea bass served with lightly creamed or citrus butter sauces. It also complements white meats and poultry in cream sauces, particularly those enriched with mushrooms, and can be enjoyed alongside aged Comté cheese.

Serving and cellaring

The Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru 2022 reveals its full potential when served at a temperature between 12°C and 14°C (54°F to 57°F). According to the estate's own assessment, this vintage shows great aging potential and is expected to drink well between 2028 and 2037.

Other characteristics

This wine carries an alcohol content of 13.5 %.

A Burgundy Grand Cru shaped by biodynamic viticulture and a west-facing terroir

The Estate

Domaine Bonneau du Martray is one of the most celebrated names associated with the Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru appellation in Burgundy. Established as a family domaine in the 19th century, it remained in the hands of the same family for nearly two centuries before being acquired in 2017 by E. Stanley Kroenke, also owner of Screaming Eagle in California. The estate's vineyards are overseen by Armand de Maigret, who manages Kroenke's French vineyard holdings. Domaine Bonneau du Martray is known for its extensive, continuous holding on the Charlemagne climat and for having fully converted to biodynamic farming in 2011.

The Vineyard

The Corton-Charlemagne comes from vines planted on the west-facing slope of the Corton hill, a rare orientation in Burgundy that allows the grapes to ripen gradually under the afternoon and evening sun, while natural airflow from the surrounding hills helps preserve freshness. The vineyard is spread across sixteen parcels reflecting a mosaic of soils, from deeper clay at the base of the slope to leaner limestone and marl near the top. The vines, averaging forty years of age, are farmed biodynamically, a practice that has strengthened soil structure and root depth over the years.

The Vintage

The 2022 vintage was shaped by warm, dry conditions, including four distinct heat spikes during the growing season. This climate encouraged generous ripeness in the grapes, while the vineyard's natural ventilation and biodynamic soil management helped maintain balance and freshness despite the heat.

Winemaking and aging

For the Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru 2022, grapes were gently crushed before pressing, allowing a soft extraction of aromatic character, followed by settling of the must. Fermentation took place in a combination of new and used French oak barrels, with each barrel carefully monitored until the first racking. After blending, the wine was aged on fine lees through a second winter, then transferred to tank for two additional months to allow the blend to harmonize. The wine spent twelve months in barrel, followed by six months in a combination of stainless steel tanks, sandstone amphorae and larger-format barrels, before being bottled in May 2024 during a descending moon phase.

Grape Varieties

100 % chardonnay.