Tasted blind at the Burgundy 2011 horizontal tasting in Beaune. The Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru 2011 from Bouchard Père & Fils has quite an austere bouquet that is missing some fruit concentration, some pyrazine and reductive notes developing in the glass. The palate is taut and grassy on the entry, again with some pyrazine notes coming through and rendering this a little facile and hard. This is disappointing in the context of both vineyard and other wines from this Burgundy stalwart.

Offering a mix of lemon, apple and stone flavors, this light-weight white is persistent, lingering with an aftertaste of apple, baking spices and mineral. Almost lacy in texture. Best from 2015 through 2022. 100 cases imported. –BS

12-14 months in barrel, up to 20% new. Attractive aroma of lemon and clementine, the fruit outshining the oak on the nose though the latter more in evidence on the palate. Elegant but without grand-cru concentration. (JH)

From the cool east face of the vineyard, this is crisp and tight, less opulent than some Corton-Charlemagne. It makes up in its rich structure, weight and tropical fruit flavors that are sliced by acidity. There is some kerosene along with these exotic fruits, and the wine does need to age. Drink from 2018.