Pierre-Yves Colin-Morey : Corton-Charlemagne Grand cru 2023

Characteristics and Tasting Notes for the Pierre-Yves Colin-Morey Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru 2023

Tasting

Color
The wine shows a mid-lemon yellow color, bright and clear, typical of a young white grand cru that has not undergone any premature oxidation.

Nose
The nose is notably complex, opening on ripe citrus, yellow peach and white flowers, layered with fresh-baked bread and beeswax. A touch of struck match and flint adds a mineral, slightly smoky dimension that is characteristic of the estate's reductive style.

Palate
This Corton-Charlemagne is medium to full-bodied, rich and textured, with a slightly viscous mouthfeel. The acidity is somewhat lower than in 2022 but remains sufficient to frame the ripe fruit, carrying the wine toward a spiced, persistent finish marked by hints of hazelnut and wet stone.

Food and wine pairings

This wine pairs naturally with noble fish such as turbot, sole or sea bass prepared with butter, cream or citrus-based sauces. It also complements lobster or langoustine served in a bisque or lemon-butter preparation. For richer dishes, it suits white meats such as poultry in a cream and mushroom sauce, as well as sweetbreads or pike quenelles with a Nantua sauce. On the cheese board, young pressed cheeses such as comté or beaufort make a fitting match.

Serving and cellaring

This Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru 2023 is best served at a temperature of 12 to 14°C. Given its reductive character, a gentle decanting of thirty minutes to one hour can help the aromas open up before serving. According to critic assessments, this wine can be cellared until at least 2040.

Other characteristics

This wine shows an alcohol level of 13.5% and residual sugar below 3 g/L, confirming its status as a fully dry white wine.

A Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru Shaped by Pierre-Yves Colin-Morey's Reductive, Mineral Style

The Estate

Domaine Pierre-Yves Colin-Morey was established in 2005-2006 in Chassagne-Montrachet, in Burgundy, after Marc Colin divided his family vineyard among his children. Pierre-Yves Colin and his wife Caroline Morey now run the estate, which combines owned vines, leased parcels and négociant purchases across roughly 13 to 14 hectares. The domaine is recognized for its dense, pure white wines from Saint-Aubin, Chassagne-Montrachet, Puligny-Montrachet and several white grand crus, including Corton-Charlemagne.

The Vineyard

This cuvée of Corton-Charlemagne comes from two complementary parcels on the hill of Corton, En Charlemagne and Les Languettes, within the Corton-Charlemagne appellation. The soils here consist of clay-limestone marls on the upper part of the slope, with Les Languettes facing east and contributing a chalky, mineral edge alongside the structure typically associated with the Charlemagne sector.

The Vintage

The 2023 growing season began with an unusually warm and dry winter and early spring. Rainfall in March supported an even flowering in May, while June brought stormy episodes. The summer was relatively moderate, followed by a late heatwave in September that accelerated ripening, prompting many growers in Corton to harvest early in the morning to preserve freshness in the grapes.

Winemaking and aging

In keeping with the estate's overall approach, grapes destined for this Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru 2023 are fermented in barrel, typically in 228-liter barrels and 350-liter demi-muids with about one-third new oak. The wine is aged on its lees for an extended period without bâtonnage, a practice that preserves tension and purity while allowing the texture to build gradually. Careful protection against oxidation throughout the elevage supports the wine's long-term aging potential.

Grape Varieties

This wine is made from 100 % chardonnay.