1998 Chandon de Briailles ‘Bressandes’ was drinking quite well about 4 years ago though the ‘Clos de Roi’ was totally shut down.
I have close to no experience with red Corton, but have a few in the cellar:
2005 Domaine Chandon de Briailles Corton-Bressandes
2005 Domaine Chandon de Briailles Corton-Maréchaudes
2000 Joseph Drouhin Corton-Bressandes
1996 Antonin Guyon Corton-Clos du Roi Domaine Hippolyte Thevenot
1993 Domaine Michel Voarick Corton-Clos du Roi
How did I do purchasing them, and when would you suggest these should show well? CT says drinking window starts 2015 and 2013 respectively for the two 2005’s.
Personally, I’d hold the 2005s until at least age 15 if not 20 and try the 2000 Drouhin now or within the next 5-10 years.
I’ve never had a Voarick or Guyon Corton so I’d just be guessing based on vintage generalizations - always a dangerous game. Based on vintage I’d hold both for a while longer yet.
Guyon is one of the better Corton producers in my book. Excellent Corton Charlemagne too.
I think the reason Cortons get so little “love”, ostensibly, judging from posts on boards, that is is that the trophier producers, for the most part aren’t making Corton. (With some exceptions, Faiveley, Meo, Jadot). The enthusiasm/love seem to be for a relatively limited group of producers that a recent poll here annointed best, second best, etc. etc…and almost none of them make Corton. In fact, for red wines, only Cote de Nuits (for some only grand cru Cote de Nuits get “love”) get “love”. And, Corton is very much Cote de Beaune. This will maybe change, as someone pointed out, now that DRC has some the former great stuff produced by the Merode estate. But, it will take time have the DRC fans to get to the Corton love.
In the meantime, give me a Corton from the “Clos du Roi” climat…anytime…from almost anyone: Merode, Senard…are my favorites. I have bought and enjoyed lots of them since the 1983 vintage. Like many Burgundies, they have to be well understood to give them a “whole lotta love”. And, Cortons aren’t obvious, for sure.
Because of the lack of trophy producers and relative lack of NFO, the wines aren’t flashy when young (and can, as Alan W. pointed out, be like Gouges wines…and need forever)…and don’t show well vs. other red grand crus…or even 1ers from Vosne and north. But, when viewed with other Cortons, they can provide a wonderful lesson in why vineyards and producers mean so much in Burgundy.
On Bern’s wine list…it is the Cortons, IMO, which make the best QPRs, FWIW…although they are refrigerated there, they do get sufficient age to really appreciate them.
Thanks for the interesting thread. Like Berry, I’m waiting for mine to mature. As far as QPR is concerned, I do not expect to be disappointed by my $25.00 2006 Laurent Cortons when opened in 2021 or so.
Evening all,
I’ve got quite a bit from the various climats made by Chandon de Briailles. After cradle-snatching a few remainder were quickly moved to the long-term cellar. I rather enjoyed those I popped, but my pleasure seemed akin to those who enjoy flagellation. The impression they give when young is often angular and a shade on the tough side, but with goodies you can tell they have what they need where they need it to blossom when at least 15 years old. Do buy ripe vintages, though.
Cheers,
David.
Love Chandon de Briailles, but, as others have said, hold the 2005s. Love Drouhin generally, but have never had a Corton from them. I was not that impressed by the one Corton I ever had from Voarick. Never had a Guyon.
Thanks Jay and Howard for your input, much appreciated!
I guess I should try to hold on to the 96 and 2000 a little longer. And the 05s I´ll make sure to tuck away for at least a decade. The Voarick was bought in Burgundy when I visited there in 2000. My first Burgundy trip. Nice guy, didn´t know a word English, so the conversation was so-so. Did buy a few bottles, and still have a couple - the Corton being one of them. Maybe I´ll pop that one in not so distant future.
I think you may be confusing impatience with insufficient life expectancy. In the US the life expectancy is 75-80. So if a 40 year old plans to wait 40 years on a bottle of wine, on average he will be dead. Even getting in the 65-75 year old age range, there is some non-trivial group of people who have various health problems that might diminish appreciation of the wine at its peak.
Folks would really need to plan ahead in their 20s and 30s to enjoy certain wines at the collective peak of both wine and individual. Or just buy wines that peak a decade or two earlier. I don’t think it’s really fair to blame people for dying before the wine peaks. Seems like an intrinsic logistical issue related to the wine itself.
I’m not blaming anyone. I don’t think they’re being opened because people are confronting the reality of their mortality. I’m just stating what to me is a fact–these wines get opened too young, for a variety of reasons including impatience, to be appreciated properly. I wish my dad had collected wine–that I’d now be drinking–and I’d collect for my kids. That’s the right way to do it! As for impatience, it’s all over this board with the infanticide . . .
alan
Quite true, but impatience can be mitigated by buying older bottles at retail/auction. But many new Burgundy drinkers fall in love with primary fruit and even when they try an older wine they have trouble appreciating its subtleties/virtues. I have dined/drunk with these people. But to each his/her own…
Paul