2016 Corton Charlemagne

(Javillier picked these old vines on the Aloxe-Corton side at the end, on September 29, with a normal crop level; aged in a single one-year-old barrel): Bright straw-yellow. Aromas of ripe yellow fruits, baking spices and vanilla, plus some sweet rocky scents. Concentrated, dense wine with a tight core of stone fruits and liquid stone; no sign of frost stress here! Quite suave, dry and very long on the aftertaste, enlivened by an element of limey citricity and late-arriving minerality. Serious Corton-Charlemagne, but with no rough edges. In fact, this strikes me as more refined than most recent vintages of this cuvée .

Tight and rich but even a little bitter. No great value compared to the best Meursaults from this family. (JR)

(Javillier's vines in Les Pougets produced a good crop in 2016): Bright, light yellow. Musky peach and flowers on the ripe nose, with a hint of menthol. Fat, sweet and slightly glyceral, with plush citrus and stone fruit flavors showing more varietal than vineyard character. This fruit bomb of a Corton-Charlemagne finishes with a touch of dusty stone and decent grip.