Lucien Le Moine : Corton Renardes Grand Cru 2020

Tasting Notes and Characteristics of the Corton Renardes Grand Cru 2020 by Lucien Le Moine

Tasting

Color

The wine shows a red wine hue, typical of the deep, saturated robes associated with pinot noir grown on the ferruginous soils of the Corton hill.

Nose

In line with the style of this grand cru, the nose is expected to reveal a dense, intense aromatic register built around red and black fruit, enhanced by spicy and mineral nuances that echo the iron-rich marls and limestone of the Renardes climat.

Palate

On the palate, the wine should display the power and structure characteristic of Corton Renardes, with firm yet enveloped tannins, a generous texture shaped by extended lees aging, and a long, concentrated finish that reflects both the vigor of the terroir and the fullness sought by the house's winemaking philosophy.

Food and wine pairings

This Corton Renardes pairs naturally with red meats, whether roasted or braised, as well as with furred game such as venison or wild boar prepared in rich sauces. It also complements dishes built around noble mushrooms, like porcini or truffles, and holds its own alongside well-aged hard cheeses.

Serving and cellaring

The Corton Renardes Grand Cru 2020 from Lucien Le Moine benefits from decanting before serving, allowing its structure to soften and its aromas to unfold. A serving temperature of around 16 to 18°C is recommended, ideally in a large Burgundy glass to fully express its aromatic complexity. No official aging window has been published for this particular vintage.

Other characteristics

In keeping with the house's practices, this wine is made with a minimal, almost homeopathic use of sulfur, and benefits from an approach that avoids fining and filtration before bottling, preserving the natural components retained throughout the extended lees aging.

A Corton Grand Cru from Lucien Le Moine, Shaped by the Ferruginous Soils of the Corton Hill

The Estate

Lucien Le Moine is a Burgundy micro-negociant house founded in 1999 in Beaune by Mounir Saouma and Rotem Brakin, who remain at its helm today. Owning no vineyards of its own, the house sources wines exclusively from premier and grand cru terroirs of the Côte d'Or, which it ages at length on full lees with minimal intervention. This two-person operation is recognized for its distinctive house style and its artisanal, highly selective approach to winemaking.

The Vineyard

The Corton Renardes climat lies on the Corton hill, within the Côte de Beaune, spanning the communes of Aloxe-Corton, Ladoix-Serrigny and Pernand-Vergelesses. Planted exclusively with pinot noir, the vines benefit from an east to northeast exposure and sit at an altitude of roughly 250 to 330 meters. The soils, composed of red marls, limestone rich in entroques and ferruginous clay, give the wines their characteristic depth of color and structure.

Winemaking and aging

As with the other reds of the house, the Corton Renardes Grand Cru 2020 is made from wine purchased shortly after pressing rather than from grapes, with Lucien Le Moine also acquiring the full lees from the parcels it works with. The wine is then aged on its complete lees without racking, for an extended period that can reach several years in barrel, with only a minimal use of sulfur throughout the process.

Grape Varieties

100% pinot noir.