Corton Grand Cru 'Les Renardes' Etienne Delarche 2020

Corton Grand Cru 'Les Renardes' from Domaine Etienne Delarche is a Pinot Noir from Burgundy endowed with a deep, broad and elegant character. Located in the Corton production area, on the border between the Côte de Beaune and Côte de Nuits, the lieu-dit 'Les Renardes' is set in the central part of the hillside, on limestone marls of the Middle and Upper Jurassic. Here, Philippe Delarche, Etienne's father, planted the first vines over 50 years ago, and today the Domaine owns approximately one hectare in the plot. According to some speculation, the appellation 'Les Renardes,' meaning "the foxes," refers to the deep animal scents that these Cortons often express.

'Les Renardes' Etienne Delarche Corton Grand Cru is a pure Pinot Noir from vines over 50 years old grown following sustainable practices within the lieu-dit of 'Les Renardes'. This parcel is characterized by a clay-limestone soil matrix and a high presence of stones and iron, as well as a southeastern exposure and an altitude of over 270 meters above sea level. Following manual harvesting, the grapes are destemmed and mash in steel tanks for temperature-controlled alcoholic fermentation. Next, the wine is racked into 30% new French oak barrels for the 12-month maturation that precedes bottling. Along the entire process, clarification or filtration is then excluded.

Etienne Delarche's Corton 'Les Renardes' Grand Cru is pure and bright ruby red in color. The complex aromatic bouquet evokes scents of red and black fruits, violet, licorice, mint and oriental spices, with earthy and slightly smoky hints in the background. Exceptional balance on the palate between structure, softness and soaring freshness, elements that join the noble tannic texture in a harmonious mineral epilogue.