Corton Wine, Côte De Beaune: 10 Prestigious Bottles, Prices

by Elaine Lau

Corton is the largest and one of the most prestigious Grand Cru vineyard lands in Burgundy.

It’s the only vineyard in Burgundy (apart from Musigny) to make wines from both Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.

Let’s explore some quick facts about the Corton appellation, ten of the most prestigious Corton wine bottles, their investment potential, and food pairing tips.

Quick Facts About The Legendary Corton Grand Cru Vineyards

Here are some interesting facts about the Corton appellation:

Where is Corton situated?

The Corton appellation is situated in the northern part of Côte de Beaune.

Its vineyards lie on the Montagne De Corton hill and share borders with the south west end of Côte de Nuits.

What is the size of the Corton appellation?

Corton covers 145 hectares (360 acres) of vineyard land.

Which are the communes and sub-regions of Corton?

The Corton appellation is home to three villages and 32 climats:

Aloxe Corton:

Les Pougets
Les Languettes
Le Corton
Les Renardes
Les Grèves
Le Clos du Roi
Les Chaumes
Les Perrières
Les Bressandes
Les Paulands
Les Maréchaudes
Les Fiètres
Le Meix
Lallemand
Clos des Meix
Les Combes
La Vigne au Saint

Ladoix-Serrigny:

Le Rognet et Corton
Clos des Cortons Faiveley
Les Moutottes
Les Carrières
Basses Mourottes
Hautes Mourottes
Les Vergennes
Les Grandes Lolières
La Toppe au Vert

Pernand-Vergelesses:

Ile des Vergelesses
Les Basses Vergelesses
les Fichots
Creux de la Net
En Caradeux
Les Plantes des Champs et Combottes
Sous Les Clos Berthet

What are the key characteristics of the Corton vineyard and terroir?

Nearly 70% of the Corton vineyard lands consists of Pinot Noir vine plantings, and the remaining 30% comprises Chardonnay and Pinot Gris (called Pinot Beurot in Burgundy.)

The eastern side of the Corton appellation receives plenty of morning sunshine and is rich in marlstone soil, providing perfect conditions for cultivating Pinot Noir.

The western side of Corton Hill features thinner topsoil and limestone, well suited for Chardonnay vine plantings.

What are the Corton wine styles?

The two distinct wine styles produced in the Corton appellation are:

Pinot Noir: Corton produces Pinot Noir-dominant red Grand Cru wine with up to 10% of Chardonnay, Pinot Blanc, and Pinot Beurot.

This red Burgundy wine is revered for its intensity, high tannin levels, and age-worthiness. Corton red wine stands should-to-shoulder with the famous single-variety Pinot Noir red wines of Côte de Nuits.

Chardonnay: The Chardonnay-based Corton Blanc allows a maximum 10% of Pinot Blanc in the final blend.

Corton Blanc is a fruity white wine with a flinty minerality.

The AOC regulations require the name of the sub-region or climat to be indicated on the label. So, on the label, you'll most likely find terms such as Le Charlemagne, Corton Clos du Roi, and Corton Les Bressandes.

Who are the major Corton wine producers?

Here are some of the top Corton wine producers:

Lucien Le Moine
Domaine de la Vougeraie
Domaine Bonneau du Martray
Domaine Chandon de Briailles
Domaine Bruno Clavelier Le Rognet
Louis Jadot
Domaine Tollot Beaut
Domaine Leroy
Joseph Drouhin
Coche-Dury

10 Best Corton Wines To Buy In 2023

Let’s take a look at ten quinesential Corton wine bottles you should try:

2018 Domaine Chandon de Briailles Corton-Bressandes Grand Cru, France ($163)
2016 Domaine Faiveley Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru, France ($233)
2015 Domaine Leroy Corton-Renardes Grand Crum, France ($15,399)
2015 Domaine Rapet Pere et Fils Corton Pougets Grand Cru, France ($66)
2015 Henri Pion - Racines Croisees Corton Le Rognet Grand Cru, France ($102)
2020 Chateau Genot-Boulanger Corton Les Combes Grand Cru, France ($111)
2014 Domaine Leroy Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru, France ($13,021)
2019 Domaine Bonneau du Martray Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru, France ($387)
2018 Domaine de la Romanee-Conti Corton Grand Cru, France ($3,231)
1999 Coche-Dury Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru, France ($ 10,434)

1. 2018 Domaine Chandon de Briailles Corton-Bressandes Grand Cru, France ($163)

This Corton Les Bressandes wine will seduce you with a sensual dark fruit aroma. The palate is medium-bodied with silky smooth tannins and a mildly sweet finish.

2. 2016 Domaine Faiveley Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru, France ($233)

This well-balanced wine from the reputed Domaine Faiveley wine possesses exceptional depth and minerality. It opens with oak, ripe fruit, and floral aromas, followed by long-lasting citrus flavors on the palate.

3. 2015 Domaine Leroy Corton-Renardes Grand Cru, France ($15,399)

The aromatic nose of this Corton Grand Cru brims with red and black fruit notes. This Aloxe Corton wine exudes strength, great volume, and richness - a trademark of the Les Renardes climat.

4. 2015 Domaine Rapet Pere et Fils Corton Pougets Grand Cru, France ($66)

This Les Pougets wine offers a unique expression of Corton’s rich terroir. The nutmeg and red cherry fruit aromas complement the refined mouthfeel and full-bodied flavors.

5. 2015 Henri Pion - Racines Croisees Corton Le Rognet Grand Cru, France ($102)

This young Corton Pinot Noir needs a few hours of decanting to reveal its delicate red berry and woody aromas. It has a silky tannic mouthfeel that gradually transitions to a rich, oily finish.

6. 2020 Chateau Genot-Boulanger Corton Les Combes Grand Cru, France ($111)

This elegant, aromatic Côte De Beaune wine is from the Corton Les Combes Premier Cru parcel. It has soft tannins and mouth-watering flavors of red cherry with a hint of sweet kirsch.

7. 2014 Domaine Leroy Corton Charlemagne Grand Cru, France ($13,021)

This Chardonnay-based Corton Blanc has a well-balanced palate and a fine line of acidity. It offers an attractive bouquet of orange blossom, honeysuckle, and citrus peel aromas that gradually grow on you.

8. 2019 Domaine Bonneau du Martray Corton Charlemagne Grand Cru, France ($387)

The 2019 Domaine Bonneau du Martray opens with white flowers and nutmeg aromas. This full-bodied white Corton wine has a lively, concentrated palate of orange oil, white flowers, and pear notes.

9. 2018 Domaine de la Romanee-Conti Corton Grand Cru, France ($3,231)

This Corton Grand Cru wine is a blend of grapes from the Renardes, Bressandes and Clos du Roi parcels. It exhibits great finesse and a long-lasting, flavorful finish.

10. 1999 Coche-Dury Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru, France ($ 10,434)

This full-bodied white Corton wine bears the signature style of the legendary white winemaker, Coche-Dury. The aromatic nose of this wine explodes with scents of spice and green apple.

Investing In Corton Wine

Corton wines have great aging potential:

The red Pinot Noir wines can age for 20 years or more.
The rare Chardonnay white wines from the Le Corton and Le Charlemagne climats have a four to ten-year aging potential.

This, coupled with the stable price appreciation trend of Corton wines over the years, makes them a great investment opportunity. For example:

The 2012 Lucien Le Moine Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru price rose from $182 in 2020 to $300 in 2022, a 64% hike.
The 1999 Coche-Dury Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru price jumped from $5,877 in 2020 to $10,461 in 2022, a 77% increase.

These wines also star at many auction events around the world:

At the Hospices de Beaune Wine Auction in 2021, a Corton Renardes Grand Cru barrel sold for a world-record $900,000.
4 bottles of 1999 Coche-Dury Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru sold for $15,925 at Christie’s in 2017.

If you’re looking to invest in a powerful Corton or any other fine wine, check out Vinovest.

Vinovest is an AI-driven leading wine investment platform that helps you buy, store and sell wines hassle-free.