2014 Corton-Bressandes, Grand Cru, Domaine Tollot-Beaut, Burgundy

Pinot Noir is probably the most frustrating, and at times infuriating, wine grape in the world. However when it is successful, it can produce some of the most sublime wines known to man. This thin-skinned grape which grows in small, tight bunches performs well on well-drained, deepish limestone based subsoils as are found on Burgundy's Côte d'Or. Pinot Noir is more susceptible than other varieties to over cropping - concentration and varietal character disappear rapidly if yields are excessive and yields as little as 25hl/ha are the norm for some climats of the Côte d`Or.

Corton Bressandes is a Grand Cru vineyard in Burgundy's Côte de Beaune sub-region. It is situated on the Corton hill, the only Grand Cru vineyard in Burgundy that produces wine from both red and white grape varieties. The vineyard is known for its complex and powerful wines, particularly the reds made from Pinot Noir grapes.

The Tollot-Beaut family Domaine is based at Chorey-Les-Beaune, often thought of as a slightly old-fashioned backwater. Their vineyard holdings, however, extend to Beaune, Savigny, Aloxe-Corton and a tiny holding in the Corton Charlemagne vineyard.