2017 Domaine Chandon de Briailles, Corton Grand Cru, Les Bressandes

The 2017 Corton-Bressandes Grand Cru is lovely, wafting from the glass with notes of dark fruits, nori, licorice, rich soil, blood orange, rose hip and dark chocolate. On the palate, the wine is full-bodied, ample and satiny, its fine-grained tannins largely concealed in a gourmand core of succulent fruit, concluding with a saline, mineral finish. Long on complexity and character, this is a terrific Corton Bressandes.

The 2017 Corton-Bressandes Grand Cru was due to be bottled at the beginning of spring. It has a more complex bouquet than the Les Maréchaudes, offering blackberry, raspberry, crushed stone/flint and light vervain tea scents. The palate is smooth and supple on the entry, with a fine bead of acidity. There is good volume and depth here, although some of the Premier Crus perhaps have a little more complexity and tension on the finish. This is still a fine Corton, however, and it should give 15 years of pleasure, probably more.

Light crimson. Red-fruited and a little stalky on the nose. Sweet and ripe on the palate, very smooth. Plenty of flavour if not the most elegant. Chewy finish. (JH)