Bonneau du Martray - Grand Cru Corton-Charlemagne 2020 (750ml)
Price: $849.99
| Producer | Bonneau du Martray |
| Country | France |
| Region | Burgundy |
| Varietal | Chardonnay |
| Vintage | 2020 |
| Sku | 201894 |
| Size | 750ml |
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Bonneau du Martray Description
Since 2008, when the composition of Romanée-Conti’s cuvée Duvault-Blochet changed to include 1er crus, Bonneau du Matray has been the only domaine in Burgundy to produce only grand cru.
Bonneau du Martray owns 11 hectares of grand cru on the hill of Corton, making it the largest owner of any single grand cru. 9 ½ hectares are planted to Chardonnay, 1 ½ is planted to Pinot Noir. The proportion planted to Pinot used to be larger, approximately 2 ½ hectares. His father almost ripped it all up but Jean-Charles dared him to keep some, telling him “you want to uproot the Pinot because you don’t know how to make red wine.” Up to the mid-seventies, 1 hectare was still planted to Aligoté. A few bottles of it remain. They are rumored to be brilliant.
The Corton-Charlemagne is divided into 15 parcels, all of which are vinified and aged separately, until the second racking. When Jean-Charles took over the domaine about ¾ of it was planted to selections massales. The clones his parents used to replant were very good ones. But wanting to preserve the mutations specific to his vineyards, he has his own conservatory. For now, he still uses both clones and massales for vine replacements.
The domaine’s land is contiguous and is situated in the heart of the appellation, in En Charlemagne in Pernand-Vergelesses, and in Le Charlemagne in Aloxe-Corton. It most likely includes the 1.5 hectares owned by Emperor Charlemagne until 775. The vineyards are located on a diagonal that runs from the top En Charlemagne to the bottom of Le Charlemagne.
Total holdings are 9.5 ha (23.5 ac) with vines planted from 1949-2007; 55 years average vine age in 2021
Terroir is comprised of 15 contiguous parcels facing west in En Charlemagne (35%) and Le Charlemagne (65%). There is almost no clay in the topsoil which is made of silt and sand, it lays over white marl.
Wine Advocate: 97 Points
As I wrote earlier this year, Bonneau du Martray's 2020 Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru unwinds in the glass with aromas of crisp Anjou pear, peach and nectarine mingled with white flowers, clear honey, nutmeg, mint and fresh bread. Medium to full-bodied, satiny and layered, it's bright and concentrated, with terrific depth at the core and a long, saline finish. Seamless, intense and complete, this elegant, precise white Burgundy is built for the cellar.
Burghound: 95 Points
An airy, cool and layered nose features notes of green apple, white flowers and discreet hints of mineral reduction and wood. The almost painfully intense, sleek and tension-filled flavors display beautiful cut and minerality while delivering superb length on the chiseled, linear and austere finale. This is an old school CC that is rich and ripe yet it cuts-like-a-knife. Impressive.
Vinous: 93 Points
The 2020 Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru was bottled in May 2022. It has a light bouquet at first, gaining intensity with time, scents of beeswax, chalk and touches of Mirabelle. The palate is well balanced with a fine bead of acidity. Quite tensile, backward and fine salinity. There is a pleasant residual spiciness here that comes through on the finish. The remainder of barrel maturation will lend more depth and weight and it will benefit from 3-5 years in bottle.
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