1992 Corton Charlemagne

We finished in grand style. Three Corton-Charlemagnes from Coche-Dury were easily among the most profound, monumental Burgundies I have ever tasted. I am not sure I own the vocabulary to do these wines justice. The 2001 Corton-Charlemagne was like a diamond in that each taste revealed a new facet as this extraordinary, explosive wine opened up in the glass. Sweet scents of lime peel and crushed rocks lingered on the eternal finish. Coche’s 1996 Corton-Charlemagne was just like his other 1996s; stagerring in its richness, complexity and sheer pedigree. The wine flowed onto the palate with tons of richly scented, layered fruit. It was a profound bottle with plenty of life ahead of it. The 1992 Corton-Charlemagne revealed tar, truffles, honey and smoke. It was creamy, soft and caressing from start to finish. I admit I didn’t taste the desserts. I was more than happy to spend a little extra time contemplating these transcendental, life-affirming wines.

Really quite deep greenish gold. Very, very opulently ripe with some putty flavours – very rich. Lovely full, flattering and exciting. There is lots and lots of material here. This has the weight of the 1995 but lots more character at the moment. Great stuff with good matter and extract. Hint of golden syrup on the nose and, again, a bit of honey. Lots of structure on the palate and it still tastes amazingly young for its age. This will last a very long time. (JR)