Pierre Girardin Corton Charlemagne Grand Cru

Pierre Girardin draws fruit for this Grand Cru from mature vines on the high limestone slopes of the Corton hill. A thirteenth-generation vigneron, Girardin has established his own label as a benchmark for modern Côte de Beaune Chardonnay, prioritising site transparency over heavy extraction.

In the cellar, Girardin eschews standard barriques in favour of custom 456-litre oak casks. This larger volume limits wood contact, preserving purity while refining texture. The wine matures on fine lees before finishing in stainless steel, then bottling without fining or filtration to preserve natural tension.

The nose opens with wet stone, citrus peel, white flowers, and raw hazelnut. The palate is crystalline and linear, delivering lemon oil and white peach across a firm mineral spine. Driven acidity yields a dry, saline finish built for decades in the cellar.