This was brooding from cask and now that it's in bottle, it's still a brooding and introverted effort with a clearly sauvage nose of deeply pitched plum and a variety of purple fruit aromas that are liberally sprinkled with earth and spice nuances that introduce rich, powerful and robust big-bodied flavors that are dense and quite serious, all wrapped in a complex and well-muscled finish. A classic Corton built to age and it will definitely need it. Drink: 2029+
-Allen Meadows, burgound.com, Issue 45. Tasted: Jan 10, 2012

Good deep red. Sexy, high-toned perfume of liqueur-like red berries, orange zest, minerals and truffle. Penetrating, savory and intense, delivering an exhilarating combination of creamy texture and energy. Wonderfully rich flavors of strawberry, raspberry, smoke and minerals complicated by chocolate and wild herbs. Firmly structured, very long wine with tannins fully enrobed by fruit. A strong first release for this wine, which is made from 2.4 hectares of vines in the grand crus Corton Renardes, Bressandes and Clos du Roi, which DRC leased in late 2008 from the Domaine Prince Florent de Merode. Incidentally, I can't recall the last time I began a Burgundy cellar visit with a grand cru.

The 2009 Corton, here in its first vintage, is a wine that has very high expectations pinned on it for a number of reasons, not the least of which is the prestige the Domaine is sure to bring to the appellation following its recent purchase of three vineyards in Corton. This shows a rich core of dark red fruit that powers through to the finish with tons of authority and concentration. The Corton is a solid wine from start to finish, but it also possesses beautifully delineated aromatics and tons of potential. This will be a fascinating wine to follow over the coming years. The early accessibility that defines some of the Domaine's other ‘entry- level' wines is nowhere to be found, however, so readers will need to be patient. The Corton is a blend of parcels in Clos du Roi, Bressandes and Renardes. The old-vine fruit from all three vineyards is harvested and vinified together.

The debut vintage sourced from leased vineyard belonging to Domaine Prince Florent de Merode, including 0.57 hectares of Clos du Roi, 1.2 hectares of Bressandes and 0.5 hectares from Renardes. Noticeably deeper in colour, the 2009 has a lifted, very seductive bouquet with intense aromas of wild strawberry and blueberry, polished with a patina of creamy new oak. It is very seductive, a bouquet that wants to make an impression. The palate is medium-bodied with firm, edgy tannins and a lovely citric edge that lends this freshness and vitality. With Aubert de Villaine’s touch, it is a less “chunky” Corton vis-a-vis other producers. There is fine weight and backbone towards the finish that demonstrates perfect dryness and reserve. This marks an excellent maiden Corton. Tasted February 2012.