2018 Domaine Lebreuil Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru

The 2018 Domaine Lebreuil Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru is white Chardonnay from one of Burgundy's most storied hillsides, planted at the summit of the Corton massif where Ladoix-Serrigny and Aloxe-Corton meet. This southeast-facing parcel sits at 280 meters, where altitude and mineral-rich soils deliver the tension and depth Corton-Charlemagne is known for. Annual production is a minuscule 600 bottles, making each release an event for collectors tracking small-domaine Grand Cru Burgundy. Domaine Lebreuil has farmed without herbicides or insecticides since 2003, transitioning toward biodynamic practices starting in 2011 and targeting High Environmental Value certification by 2021. After a gentle crush, the fruit is pressed pneumatically over two and a half hours, then the juice settles in tank at 8°C for two days to drop solids naturally. Fermentation and aging unfold in barrel — 35% new oak — for fourteen to eighteen months, with spontaneous malolactic conversion occurring in wood. The approach is patient, hands-off, and calibrated to let the Corton terroir speak. On the palate, the 2018 vintage shows the legendary fat, buttery texture of the Montagne de Corton, balanced by the site's characteristic minerality and finesse. The wine is impressively long, with layers of orchard fruit, hazelnuts, and a saline thread that carries through the finish. It pairs naturally with roasted chicken, lobster in drawn butter, or aged Comté, and it will evolve gracefully in the cellar for another decade. This is Grand Cru Chardonnay that rewards patience but drinks beautifully now with an hour of air. The 2018 Domaine Lebreuil Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru is available for pickup at our Lincoln Park bottle shop at 1128 W Armitage Ave, local Chicago delivery, or nationwide shipping.