1985 Bonneau du Martray Corton-Charlemagne- France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru (1/20/2016)
I’ve been fortunate enough to have had this wine 5-6 times over the years and each time it has always been splendid but never have I had a better bottle than tonight’s. Admittedly it was a recent acquisition direct from the Domaine. It had such an engaging nose with a saline base upon which there were glimpses of peach, lemon and guava. There was a suggestion of white mushroom and a whiff of toast. In the mouth it was sublime. It had the strict line of Corton, with plenty of grapefruit action. There was the glycerol you get with great white Burgundy and layers of flavour titillated the palate. It is a perfect wine in every way with remarkable poise and persistence.
When this wine comes in a well stored bottle, this is one of the highlight wines in my short lifetime of enjoying Burgundy. This is absolutely stunning. What a great note. Wonderful.
Jeremy, nice note! Jeremy/Don/Brad - the only Bonneau I’ve bought was the 01 which unfortunately was badly premoxed. Any recommendations for a classic vintage that’s drinking now?
Albert. I’m no expert on this wine, but 92 has been great, 05 is a newer but good vintage, and the 2010 is reputed to be good (I own it but haven’t tried it yet).
Exhibit 1 for why numerical ratings are useless… Here, you can call a wine “perfect” and be accurate both objectively and subjectively. Nice! Sounds wonderful – love the house when it’s singing and unflawed.
Albert, If you can find the '85 or '86 grab them. Both very different but both brilliant. The '86 has a touch of botrytis. The '88 is also majestic and I’ve had several good bottles of '82. I had a '92 with fellow board member Anthony Hall recently that was absolutely singing.