Aloxe Corton is a Burgundy wine produced at the entrance to the Côte de Beaune, to the north between the communes of Ladoix and Pernand-Vergelesses.

A village at the foot of the Corton hill

The transition from the prestigious Côte de Nuits to the generous Côte de Beaune takes place over a small, well-known mountain: the hill of Corton. The grapes used to make the splendid Corton (Côte de Beaune’s only Grand Cru, made mainly from Pinot Noir) and Corton-Charlemagne (made exclusively from Chardonnay) are grown on the slopes. It’s said that the latter, a devotee of Corton wines, had a preference for white, as he didn’t leave stains on his white beard.

At the bottom of the hill, three villages share the land. Pernand-Vergelesses, long the kingdom of reds, is now acclaimed for its white wines (65% of the appellation’s wines) made from Chardonnay. It should be noted that only the latter are eligible for the Premier Cru label. Next comes the village of Ladoix, long forgotten in the shadow of its prestigious neighbors. Despite perfect exposure, Ladoix wines (mostly reds) remain less well known. Finally, the smallest but most famous village of the three: Aloxe-Corton. Its wines benefit from climatic and geological conditions similar to those of its illustrious neighbors classified as Grands Crus.

The kingdom of reds

Aloxe Corton wines may be made from Pinot Noir or Chardonnay grapes, according to the specifications laid down by the INAO in 1938. But in reality, less than 2 hectares are planted with white versus 116 hectares with red. This is why Aloxe Corton is referred to as the “kingdom of the reds”.

It is difficult to give a general trend for the appellation, since the slope of the hills on which the vineyards are planted plays a major role in the final result. However, Aloxe Corton wines are often rather robust and vigorous reds that never detach themselves from a certain distinction. These are not wines for laying down, but they will tend to reach their peak after 5-7 years.

L’ Aloxe Corton 2016

To focus onAloxe Corton 2016, it’s worth recalling that this year has been rather eventful. Burgundy has seen a succession of hazardous weather events: spring frosts, hail, torrential rain, and a scorching summer… Although these frost episodes did not cause as much damage as in 2021, the fact remains that the harvest was largely destroyed throughout Burgundy that year (losses estimated at 50%). Burgundians love a happy ending, and the 2016 vintage was a perfect illustration!

The surviving grapes were of excellent quality, however, and produced high-quality wines with intense colors. Aloxe Corton 2016 has a deep ruby color. The nose takes longer to reveal itself, while the palate is directly greedy, with a beautiful freshness as standard. Although there are only a few bottles, their quality is absolutely salvific, and we urge you to buy them if you get the chance!

It’s a pleasurable, gourmet wine that goes perfectly with a piece of meat, such as a fondue bourguignonne, so you won’t be overwhelmed!