2005 Prince Florent de Merode Corton Les Renardes

Domaine Prince Florent de Merode is a 15-acre domaine in Aloxe-Corton, Ladoix-Serrigny and Pommard. It has been owned by the same family since 1700 and it includes a splendid moated castle. Wine has always been made at the domain in very small amounts. When the prince and then his wife died a few years ago, their children leased out six acres of their Corton parcel to Domaine de la Romanee Conti. The first Prince Florent de Merode wines made by DRC were from the 2009 vintage. Even before 2009, Clive Coates wrote that the “Prince de Merode’s wines are well colored, rich, concentrated, individual and stylish. This is one of the best sources today for a range of quality Corton.”

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.