2018 Corton-Charlemagne, Grand Cru, Domaine des Croix, Burgundy

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.

Two specific vineyards, En Charlemagne and Le Charlemagne, make up half of this appellation, while white grapes grown in seven others 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 at the start of the harvest, and the western slopes in Pernand-Vergelesses which might be picked weeks later.

The former Domaine Duchet in Beaune has been bought by American Roger Forbes and his co-investors, and entrusted to the care of David Croix, the gifted winemaker for Camille Giroud. David, the emerging talent of the year according to Bourgogne Aujourd'hui magazine (issue no. 73) is in complete charge at the domaine, which has been renamed Domaine des Croix. The first vintage, 2005, comprised Corton-Charlemagne, Bourgogne Rouge, Beaune and various Beaune premiers crus from Pertuisots, Cent Vignes, Bressandes and Grèves. The vineyards have been farmed organically since 2008. From 2009 there will be Aloxe-Corton and Corton Grèves. Jasper Morris MW, Burgundy Wine Director and author of the award-winning Inside Burgundy comprehensive handbook.