Few white wines in the world are as synonymous with their appellation as the prized Corton-Charlemagne from Bonneau du Martray. Although this prestigious Grand Cru vineyard has its share of worthy producers bottling some of the world's most sought after Chardonnay, it's the wine from Bonneau du Martray that has come to define this special hillside in Burgundy. For decades, a host of presidents, diplomats and ambassadors have chosen to pour this benchmark bottle at signficant dinners and events, including a private birthday gathering for Queen Elizabeth II in 2006. With just over 9 hectares of vines in the heart of the appellation, Bonneau du Martray has long held some of the most desirable rows of Chardonnay that contribute to bottles worthy of being served at such events.

 

 

Thanks to its unique vineyard positioning as the only grand cru in Cote d’Or exposed to the setting sun, Bonneau du Martray's vines see substantially longer sunlight in the evening than the east facing slopes, which contributes to the richness and concentration the truly special bottles of Corton-Charlemagne are known for. And like so many of the finest Grand Cru bottles, there is always an ethereal quality to the wine that somehow adds a sense of weightlessness to an otherwise powerful Chardonnay. As the only producer in all of Burgundy to control exclusively Grand Cru parcels, Bonneau du Martray is committed to bottling the absolute pinnacle of wines coming out of France each vintage and their Corton-Charlemagne has proven to be a distance runner that can be cellared for upwards of 20 years. In an effort to devote even greater attention to an already exceptional wine, Bonneau du Martray announced in 2018 that a small portion of their Corton-Charlemagne holdings would be leased to Domaine de la Romanée-Conti -- a win-win proposition for two Burgundy heavyweights as this unprecedented agreement now allows for increased focus from Bonneau du Martray (with a smaller production) while also bringing an iconic name like DRC into the Corton-Charlemagne fold in upcoming vintages.

 

 

This afternoon we have the rare opportunity to offer the Bonneau du Martray 2018 Corton-Charlemagne in a variety of formats to our TCWC mailing list -- including 375mL half bottles and hard-to-find 1.5L magnums. Quantities are limited for each format and all orders are subject to a final confirmation based on availability. One of the world's most revered Chardonnays, the 2018 Bonneau du Martray Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru will be arriving at TCWC early next week and available for local pickup, storage, or shipment across the US this Fall.