Domaine Rapet 2021 Corton Charlemagne 750ml

This benchmark Pernand-Vergelesses estate dates to 1765 and has been led by Vincent Rapet since 1985, joined by his son Robin in 2022. The Corton-Charlemagne holding straddles the Pernand-Vergelesses and Aloxe-Corton communes on a steep southwest-facing slope of silico-calcareous marl — shallow, stony, friable soils that stress the vine — with plantings ranging from roughly ten to over fifty years old, marrying old-vine power to young-vine finesse. Whole bunches are gently pneumatic-pressed, settled cold for 24 hours, fermented in barrel with 30% new oak, then aged on lees with bâtonnage and bottled after twelve months.

2021 opened with the historic April frost; candles and a wind machine in the Charlemagne limited the damage, but snow and near -8°C slashed the crop, yielding whites of finesse and tension. Expect a taut, high-toned Grand Cru: lemon zest, white peach and crushed stone over hazelnut, honey and toasted almond, with saline flinty grip and a long, chiselled finish. Structurally serious — best from five years, and rewarding well beyond a decade.

Serve at 12°C with lobster, turbot, sweetbreads, or poultry with morels.