2021 Corton-Charlemagne, Grand Cru, Arnaud Baillot, Burgundy

Arnaud Baillot

Domaine Arnaud Baillot is situated in the heart of the Côte d’Or, specifically in Beaune, a renowned wine-producing region in Burgundy. Arnaud Baillot and his wife Laure, the granddaughter of Domaine Hudelot-Noëllat in Chambolle-Musigny, share a deep passion for the diverse wines the Burgundy region offers.

Their collaboration has led to the creation of a remarkable range of village and premier cru Burgundy wines. Arnaud Baillot plays a hands-on role in every aspect of winemaking, from meticulously selecting the grape sources to overseeing the winemaking process and carefully choosing the type of barrels and ageing durations for each wine.

In 2017, the couple took a significant step by acquiring a small vineyard in the Côte de Beaune, marking the beginning of their venture into producing estate wines under the label Domaine Arnaud Baillot. Their winemaking philosophy revolves around respecting and showcasing the intricate terroirs of the Burgundy wine region, resulting in terroir-driven wines that truly exemplify the Burgundian character.

As they present their next vintage, it’s clear that Domaine Arnaud Baillot is committed to crafting limited-edition small-batch Burgundy crus, continuing to share their passion for and commitment to the complexity and uniqueness of the Burgundy wine region.

Corton-Charlemagne

There are two specific Charlemagne vineyards, En Charlemagne and Le Charlemagne, making up half the Corton-Charlemagne appellation, while white grapes grown in seven other vineyards (see list below) may also be sold as Corton-Charlemagne. As a result there can be a wide divergence in style between a south-facing location such as Pougets, which needs picking right at the start of the harvest, and the western slopes in Pernand-Vergelesses which might be picked several weeks later. The underlying similarity though comes from the minerality of the soil.

En Charlemagne lies at the border with Aloxe-Corton. The hillside faces west and fine, racy white wines can be made, but the Grand Cru appellation has been extended right up to the village of Pernand itself, by which time the exposition is north-west and the valley has become noticeably more enclosed. The final sector was only promoted in 1966, and probably should not have been.

Le Charlemagne is the absolute heartland of the appellation, facing south-west, thus avoiding the risk of over-ripeness which can afflict the vines exposed due south. If I had Corton-Charlemagne vines here I would be tempted to let the world know by labelling the wine as Corton-Charlemagne, Le Charlemagne.

Two producers to my knowledge also have some Pinot Noir planted here – Follin-Arbelet and Bonneau du Martray. Both make attractive wines but neither, to my mind, justifies Grand Cru status for red wine, lacking the extra dimensions of flavour one hopes for at the highest level. This is not the producers’ fault, but a reflection of the terroir.

Chardonnay

Chardonnay is often seen as the king of white wine grapes and one of the most widely planted in the world It is suited to a wide variety of soils, though it excels in soils with a high limestone content as found in Champagne, Chablis, and the Côte D`Or.

Burgundy is Chardonnay's spiritual home and the best White Burgundies are dry, rich, honeyed wines with marvellous poise, elegance and balance. They are unquestionably the finest dry white wines in the world. Chardonnay plays a crucial role in the Champagne blend, providing structure and finesse, and is the sole grape in Blanc de Blancs.

It is quantitatively important in California and Australia, is widely planted in Chile and South Africa, and is the second most widely planted grape in New Zealand. In warm climates Chardonnay has a tendency to develop very high sugar levels during the final stages of ripening and this can occur at the expense of acidity. Late picking is a common problem and can result in blowsy and flabby wines that lack structure and definition.

Recently in the New World, we have seen a move towards more elegant, better- balanced and less oak-driven Chardonnays, and this is to be welcomed.