Corton-Charlemagne is one of the world’s great white wines. The large hill just north of Beaune has produced fine and long-lived white Burgundies for over a thousand years. As you might expect from such storied Grand Cru terroir, the wines don’t come cheap.
But about 30 yards off the northern end of Corton-Charlemagne lies a special plot of vines owned by the Ravaut family. Though the classification is village — two steps below Grand Cru — the wine shows a richness far above its lineage. It produces only about 100 cases a year.
This was the wine that brought us to the Domaine Ravaut; and while their Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru itself is delightful, their Ladoix blanc affords similar richness at a steep discount.
Though overshadowed by hype surrounding the 2015 vintage, 2016 was another excellent year in Burgundy. The whites in particular show an exceptional balance between ripe, mouthcoating fruit and pitch-perfect tension.
Ravaut’s 2016 Ladoix “Hautes Mourottes” is quietly exceptional wine. The town is mostly unknown, and the village classification modest. But it’s rare to find a wine that so perfectly matches perfume and tension and grace. The nose shows gardenia, mango, sweet lemon, and honey; the mouth is rich and spiced, with white pepper and herbs, and beautiful citrus freshness.
This wine requires nothing but a big glass and moment of pause — it’s a symphony of flavor in the glass.
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Ravaut Ladoix “Hautes Mourottes” 2016
Ansonia Retail: $74
2+ bottle price : $65/bot
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