Pierre Girardin Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru 2024 750ml

Corton-Charlemagne is the great white grand cru of the Côte de Beaune, wrapped around the upper slopes of the hill of Corton where the vines sit on pale marl and limestone above the red wine ground below. Tradition holds that the emperor Charlemagne ordered white grapes planted here so the wine would not stain his beard, and whatever the truth of that, the site produces some of the most powerful and long-lived Chardonnay in France.The nose is broad and complex, moving from lemon oil and white peach through to almond paste, wet stone and a savoury note of cinnamon and toast. The palate is dense and muscular, with layered fruit built on a firm mineral frame, and the finish is extremely long, stony and gently smoky. Wines from this hill reward patience and generally need several years before they show everything.Pierre-Vincent Girardin, thirteenth generation of a Burgundian winemaking family, set up his own domaine in Meursault in 2016. Even at grand cru level he sticks to his oversized 456 litre barrels, which allow slow, gentle ageing while keeping the oak imprint light enough for the vineyard to dominate.Vintages may vary. Email us at hello@barrelandbatch.com.au if you would like confirmation.