Domaine Chanson - Corton Vergennes Grand Cru White 2018

Grape

100% Chardonnay

Tasting notes

Bright gold colour. Floral fragrances mixed with intense aromas of white and yellow orchard fruit on a hint of minerality. Complex and well-balanced. Dense and tight texture. Long and elegant finish.

Expert Ratings

93 Points – Wine Spectator

“Lemon oil, sweet corn, apple and butterscotch flavors highlight this succulent white. It’s firmly structured, balanced in a steely way, and leaves a chalky feel on the long, mouthwatering finish. Best from 2022 through 2030. 16 cases imported.”

93 Points – Wine Enthusiast

“The shy nose on this wine remains closed even with swirling. The palate reveals a still tightly coiled body of creamy density, compressed lemon and Mirabelle bedded on a very textured, smooth midpalate. Something understated and statuesque here needs time to blossom. Drink 2025–2035.”

92 Points – Burghound

“Discreet but discernible wood influence surrounds the ripe aromas of white orchard fruit compote, anise and citrus confit. There is excellent volume to the opulent and exceptionally rich larger-scaled flavors that are not particularly refined, indeed they flirt with rusticity, though there is fine depth and length. This is a big but balanced Corton Blanc that should be reasonably approachable young.”

92 Points – Wine & Spirits

“This stony hillock, once owned by Charles Gravier, Count of Vergennes, is now split between Chanson and the Hospices de Beaune. The wine is reticent, as young Corton can be, smoky with oak spice, with a terse Granny-Smith-apple juiciness in the end. Several decades of tasting have led me to look for structural markers in Corton that would predict its likelihood of aging well. In a vintage like 2019, a summer of heat and water stress, all that’s clear is that the wine is not ready to drink. What course 2019’s may take in aging remains to be seen; this one seems an intriguing wine to follow.”

More About The Winery

Founded in 1750, Chanson Père & Fils is one of Burgundy’s oldest négociant houses, with a long tradition of producing wines that reflect both terroir and craftsmanship. The house is based in the historic “Bastion” of Beaune, a late-medieval stone tower that serves as its iconic headquarters and ageing cellar, while modern vinification facilities on the edge of town ensure precision and consistency.

In 1999, Chanson was acquired by Bollinger, ushering in a new era of quality under the leadership of Gilles de Courcel and winemaker Jean-Pierre Confuron (of Vosne-Romanée’s Domaine Confuron-Cotetidot). Since then, the estate has undergone significant improvements: careful vineyard management (no fertilizers, plowed soils), a move to organic practices from 2009, and winemaking marked by stem inclusion for reds, subtle oak ageing (30% new), and a focus on balance and purity.

The domaine now encompasses 45 hectares in the Côte de Beaune, including prized vineyards in Savigny, Pernand, and Beaune, providing about a quarter of production. The rest comes from long-term partnerships across Chablis, Mâconnais, and Beaujolais, offering a comprehensive Burgundy portfolio.