2016 Philippe Pacalet Corton Bressandes

Philippe Pacalet was an estate manager for Domaine Prieure Roch until 1999, when he decided to rent small vineyard parcels in Beaune and make his own wines. Today he makes wine entirely on his own and has very limited production. He makes a variety wines, including Grand Cru Charmes Chambertin, and Premier Cru Meursault, Nuits-Saint-Georges, Pommard and Saint-Aubin. Robert M. Parker Jr. has written that to taste these wines “is a revelation. No one seriously interested in Burgundy should neglect this experience.”

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.