Corton is Burgundy's largest Grand Cru hill, and one of the very few permitted to produce both red and white Grand Cru wine. Domaine Comte Senard, based in Aloxe-Corton, has farmed a piece of that hill for generations, including a monopole parcel that gives the estate a genuinely singular voice within one of the region's most complex appellations.
A Historic Aloxe-Corton Estate
The Senard family has been rooted in Aloxe-Corton for generations, with the domaine now guided by Lorraine Senard, who has steered the estate toward increasingly biodynamic and low-intervention farming in recent years while keeping the family's historic vineyard holdings intact.
Clos des Meix: A Monopole Within Corton
The domaine's signature holding is Clos des Meix, a walled monopole parcel within the Corton Grand Cru, farmed entirely by the estate. Monopole status means every bottle of Clos des Meix comes from this one family's hand, giving drinkers a rare, consistent view into a single, specific slice of Corton across vintages.
House Style: Structured but Increasingly Refined
Corton has historically had a reputation for being a slower-to-open, more rustic Grand Cru compared to some Cote de Nuits equivalents. Under Lorraine Senard's more recent stewardship, the domaine's wines have moved toward greater precision and freshness without losing the structure that makes serious Corton worth cellaring in the first place.
Why This Estate Fits Our Burgundy Focus
Corton rarely gets the same spotlight as Vosne-Romanee or Chambertin, despite being one of Burgundy's few Grand Cru sites for both colours of wine. Featuring Comte Senard as part of this month's Burgundy series is a chance to put a genuinely important, monopole-holding Aloxe-Corton estate in front of drinkers who may not have explored the appellation yet.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a monopole in Burgundy?
A vineyard parcel owned and farmed entirely by a single producer, meaning no other estate bottles wine from that specific plot. Clos des Meix is Comte Senard's monopole within the Corton Grand Cru.
Does Corton make both red and white Grand Cru wine?
Yes, Corton is one of the few sites in Burgundy permitted to produce Grand Cru wine in both colours, red Corton and white Corton-Charlemagne, from different parcels on the same hill.
Is Comte Senard biodynamic?
The domaine has moved increasingly toward biodynamic and low-intervention farming under current stewardship, while maintaining its historic vineyard holdings.
Explore the range in our Comte Senard collection, or browse our Aloxe-Corton collection at The Vintage Wine Club.
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