Corton “Clos du Roi” Grand Cru Reviews

The 2010 Corton Le Clos du Roi explodes onto the palate with masses of dark fruit, smoke, incense and licorice. It boasts exceptional volume and depth in a rich, round style that caresses the palate from start to finish. The aromas and flavors build seamlessly to the huge, imposing finish. This is a dazzling effort from La Vougeraie. Anticipated maturity: 2020-2040. This is stunning set of wines from Pierre Vincent and Domaine de la Vougeraie. It is impossible to miss the attention to detail at this impeccably run domaine. No expense is spared. It takes 80 people to work the vineyards during harvest and another 20 in the cellar to take it from there. Production in 2010 was of course down significantly as it was everywhere else. Yields came in at 24 hectoliters per hectare for the Pinot and 29 for the Chardonnay. Vincent used between 30-80% whole bunches, depending on the wine. Readers who want to learn more might want to check out my video interview with Pierre Vincent on www.erobertparker.com. I will report on the domaine’s 2009s in the April issue. For now let me just say the 2009 Musigny is one of the wines of the vintage.

A spicy and distinctly earthy nose of ripe and very floral wild red berries also displays the pungent sauvage notes of a classic Clos du Roi. There is excellent mid-palate concentration to the palate staining broad-shouldered flavors that possess plenty of muscle and punch on the complex and terrifically long finish. This is a very serious effort that will require all of 15 years to come around and perhaps even a few more before all of the structure is fully resolved.