Corton

The hill of Corton carries the oldest documented ownership story in Burgundy. In the late eighth century Charlemagne held land here, and around 775 AD he donated it to the Abbey of Saint-Andoche in Saulieu — the origin of every legend attached to this hilltop. Corton gained Grand Cru status for red wine in 1937, spanning three communes: Aloxe-Corton, Pernand-Vergelesses, and Ladoix-Serrigny. It remains the only red-wine Grand Cru of the Côte de Beaune, producing roughly 400,000 bottles per year across the appellation.

Corton is among the largest grands crus in Burgundy. Red wine from Pinot Noir accounts for about 95% of production; the remaining fraction — white Corton made from Chardonnay — comes from the upper slopes where limestone dominates. The mid and lower slopes carry heavier clay soils and are reserved for red. That boundary also separates Corton from its neighbour Corton-Charlemagne, the white-wine appellation occupying the hilltop.

A distinctive feature here is the routine use of *climat* names on labels — far less common elsewhere on the Côte d'Or. Notable *climats* include Le Corton, Les Bressandes, Clos du Roi, Les Renardes, Les Perrières, and Les Pougets. Le Corton and Clos du Roi tend toward the most structured, age-demanding expressions; Les Bressandes is pulled in the opposite direction — red-fruited and more immediately appealing.

Regulations cap yields at 35 hl/ha, set minimum planting density at 9,000 vines per hectare, and require minimum potential alcohol of 11.5%. The resulting style is often described as a Côte de Beaune wine carrying Côte de Nuits weight: firm tannins, good acidity, and the kind of structure that rewards a decade in the cellar.

Domaine Bonneau du Martray is a historical anchor of the hill, producing both red Corton and white Corton-Charlemagne across its substantial holdings.

Maison Louis Latour has maintained a major presence for generations, most visibly through its *Château Corton Grancey* cuvée — a blend drawn from multiple *climats*.

Domaine Bouchard Père & Fils, the large Beaune négociant, holds parcels in several red *climats* and has bottled Corton under its own label for well over a century.

Domaine de la Romanée-Conti entered Corton in 2009, acquiring parcels from the Bonneau de Veyrières family and releasing a red Corton that draws predictable attention at auction.

Hospices de Beaune owns multiple *climats* and auctions Corton *cuvées* under various benefactor names each November — a centuries-old tradition that still sets price benchmarks across the appellation.

Other significant names include Domaine Tollot-Beaut, Domaine Comte Senard, and Domaine Chandon de Briailles, all established houses of the northern Côte de Beaune.