2002 Corton Charlemagne

The 2002 Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru was the one vintage that didn’t entirely meet my expectations. The wine offers up notes of lemon oil, mint, vanilla pod, white flowers and salty soil tones, followed by a full-bodied, ample wine with considerable substance but seemingly missing some of the cut, energy and coherence that even the less celebrated among these eleven vintages displayed. I wonder if it was a perfect bottle?

Ideal conditions for the vine. Great balance in the vines. The north wind kept the vines healthy. Very classic season and wine. Very good balance in the grapes as well as the vines. Ideal. For Raphael, 2002 was better balanced than the 2005, even though everyone talks about 2005s being a great year. Lovely minerality and struck match quality on the nose. The Coches have hardly tasted it because they are so sure of it and they just have it stashed away in the cellar. Liquorice and refinement but then great depth and weight follows it up. Great length. Dry finish but with great depth and richness beforehand. Wonderful aftertaste and persistence. Real life and elegance. Lovely texture plus depth – a great combination. (JR)