Corton Charlemagne, Burgundy: 10 Prestigious Wines, Prices, Terroir

by Elaine Lau

Corton Charlemagne is a Grand Cru appellation, located on the border between Côte de Nuits and Côte de Beaune (on the Montagne de Corton Hill.)

This legendary Burgundy appellation exclusively grows the Chardonnay white grape variety and produces the rarest and most sought-after white Burgundy wines.

Let’s discover some interesting facts about Corton Charlemagne, its most sensational wines, their investment potential, and food pairing tips.

Quick Facts About The Corton Charlemagne Appellation

Here are some interesting facts about the Corton Charlemagne appellation:

Which are the major communes and climats of Corton Charlemagne?

The Corton Charlemagne vineyard lands cover 52 hectares (130 acres) across three communes and eight climats in the Côte De Beaune sub-region of Côte Dor:

Aloxe Corton
- Le Charlemagne
- Les Renardes
Ladoix-Serrigny
- Le Corton
- Les Pougets
- Les Languettes
- Basses Mourottes
- Hautes Mourottes
Pernand-Vergelesses
- En Charlemagne

What is the terroir of the Corton Charlemagne vineyard plots?

The Corton Charlemagne Grand Cru appellation sits at an elevation of 300 meters on the steep slopes of Corton Hill.

The terroir comprises densely covered woodland, oolitic limestone, and marl soil, providing perfect conditions for growing Chardonnay grapes. The average age of the Corton Charlemagne vines is approximately 50 years.

The appellation shares borders with Aloxe Corton’s Pinot Noir vine plots (also part of the Corton appellation.)

What are the key characteristics of Corton-Charlemagne wines?

Corton Charlemagne produces rich white wines with flinty minerality and subtle buttery and fruit flavors.

These wines are aged in traditional oak barrels and can age in your cellar for at least 10 years after release.

What are the Corton Charlemagne AOC regulations?

According to Corton Charlemagne AOC regulations:

The wine must be made from 100% Chardonnay grapes.
The harvest yield should be less than 2.7 tons per acre.
The wine’s alcohol content should be at least 12%.

What is the annual wine production of Corton Charlemagne?

The average annual production of Corton Charlemagne wine is roughly 310,000 bottles.

Who are the key Corton Charlemagne growers and producers?

Here are some of the most prominent Corton Charlemagne growers and producers:

Domaine de la Vougeraie
Joseph Drouhin
Domaine Faiveley
Maison Louis Latour
Louis Jadot
Coche-Dury
Domaine Leroy
Pierre Yves Colin Morey
Domaine Georges & Christophe Roumier

When was the Corton Charlemagne appellation established?

The first recorded history of vine planting in Corton Charlemagne dates back to 696 AD.

Around the late 700s, the appellation was named Charlemagne (after the Holy Roman Emperor Charlemagne, who owned most of the vineyard lands at the time.)

By 1816, the appellation was officially named Corton Charlemagne (the term "Corton" was added to indicate these wines originate from the prestigious Le Corton vineyard.)

In 1937, the appellation received its Grand Cru status.

10 Best Corton Charlemagne Wines To Buy In 2023

Here are some of the most prestigious Corton Charlemagne wines you should try:

1999 Coche-Dury Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru, France ($10,461)
2015 Domaine Bonneau Du Martray Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru, France ($360)
1990 Louis Latour Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru, France ($326)
2018 Louis Jadot Domaine Des Heritiers Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru, France ($229)
2002 Domaine Leroy Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru, France ($19,671)
2018 Rene Lequin-Colin Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru, France ($102)
2008 Joseph Drouhin Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru, France ($498)
2016 Domaine De La Vougeraie Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru, France ($217)
2014 Pierre-Yves Colin-Morey Corton Charlemagne Grand Cru, France ($798)
2004 Domaine Georges & Christophe Roumier Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru, France ($1,665)

1. 1999 Coche-Dury Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru, France ($10,461)

This exceptional wine is made from high-quality Chardonnay white grapes and exhibits extraordinairy depth, finesse, and intense minerality. It exudes dominant green apple and cream aromas, followed by a full-bodied palate and a long, flavorful finish.

2. 2015 Domaine Bonneau Du Martray Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru, France ($360)

The palate of this Domaine Bonneau Du Martray white wine offers exuberant flavors of citrus fruits, pear, and pineapples with a mineral and slightly salty finish. It's rated 90-92 points by the Wine Advocate.

3. 1990 Louis Latour Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru, France ($326)

The 1990 Maison Louis Latour wine opens with a complex aroma of citrus fruits. It has a mild acidity with dominant honey and dried herb flavors on the palate.

4. 2018 Louis Jadot Domaine Des Heritiers Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru, France ($229)

This classic Corton Charlemagne exhibits a flinty acidity with delicate hazelnut and toasted almond aromas. It has delicate apricot, mint, and vanilla tasting notes on the palate. The Wine Advocate rated this vintage 94 points.

5. 2002 Domaine Leroy Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru, France ($19,671)

This white wine opens with dominant lime, apple blossom, and mint notes. It has a dense palate that transitions to a smooth, long-lasting citrusy finish.

6. 2018 Rene Lequin-Colin Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru, France ($102)

This Corton Charlemagne wine opens with a sensational floral aroma with hints of green apple. It has a perfectly balanced and structured palate with a lovely minerality and citrusy acidity.

7. 2008 Joseph Drouhin Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru, France ($498)

This Joseph Drouhin wine exudes almond and honey notes with a hint of sweet spices. The wine’s clean minerality is followed by a long almond-flavored finish.

8. 2016 Domaine De La Vougeraie Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru, France ($217)

The 2016 Domaine De La Vougeraie is a refreshing wine with a citrusy palate. The nose reveals rich oak, vanilla, and clove aromas intertwined with mineral underlayers.

9. 2014 Pierre-Yves Colin-Morey Corton Charlemagne Grand Cru, France ($798)

This 2014 Pierre-Yves Colin-Morey wine opens with lime and lavender aromas. It has a slightly buttery mouthfeel with rich green apple and lemony tasting notes.

10. 2004 Domaine Georges & Christophe Roumier Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru, France ($1,665)

This wine brims with spiced apple, candied ginger, and dried pineapple aromas. The palate exhibits a dense core of pear and grapefruit flavors, followed by a long citrusy finale.

Investing in Corton Charlemagne

Corton Charlemagne wine is produced in extremely limited quantities and has a great aging potential of 10 to 30 years.

The high demand and limited supply for this white Burgundy Grand Cru wine has resulted in a stable price appreciation over the recent years, making it an attractive collectible. For example:

The 2004 Domaine Georges & Christophe Roumier Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru price rose from $640 in 2020 to $1,666 in 2022, a 61% hike.
The 2002 Domaine Leroy Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru price went from $3,406 in 2020 to $6,542 in 2022, a 47% increase.

These classic Corton Charlemagne white wines are also a sensation at auction events worldwide. At a Sotheby's auction in 2021:

Twelve bottles of the 2004 Domaine Leroy Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru sold for $81,250.
Two bottles of the 2003 Coche-Dury Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru sold for $9,375.

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