1971 Alexis Lichine & Domaine Senard Corton Clos du Roy

Alexis Lichine was a larger-than-life figure who was born in Moscow in 1913 and died in Bordeaux in 1989. During his life he was an indefatigable salesman and promoter, as well as the winner of numerous military honors in WWII. He began his wine career as a wine writer and an expert on French and California wines and in 1951 purchased Chateau Prieure-Lichine. He also started a negociant business in New York and set up a wine shipping company in Bordeaux. Wines with the Lichine label are associated with his negociant/exporting firms.

Corton is a Grand Cru vineyard for red wine within the Corton appellation. It is a long, slender, stony limestone site that wraps part way around the top slopes of Montagne de Corton, a hill that reaches to 1,150 feet. The 234-acre vineyard primarily faces south, west and east, and is sheltered by a windbreak of trees while also receiving excellent exposure to sun. Corton is the Cote de Beaune’s only red Grand Cru. The largest producers are Louis Latour, with 37.5 acres; Hospices de Beaune, with 16 acres; and D'Ardhuy, with 11.85 acres. The names of smaller vineyards within Corton are frequently added to the names of Corton wines, resulting in names such as Corton Les Renardes, Corton Les Chaumes, Corton les Perrieres, etc.

This red wine is relatively light and can pair with a wide variety of foods. The grape prefers cooler climates and the wine is most often associated with Burgundy, Champagne and the U.S. west coast. Regional differences make it nearly as fickle as it is flexible.