Bouchard Pere & Fils Le Corton Grand Cru 2012

In their words - Opulent bouquet combining notes of red and black fruits and spices with hints of smoke. Full-bodied and rich, it ex- presses itself with distinction. A great, racy wine with excellent ageing potential.

The climat of Le Corton is unique due to its east-facing location at altitude, where northern winds keep the fruit fresh and where there is little risk of disease, so perfect ripeness can be expected with serenity. The unique nature of the soil on the hillside, a shallow, iron-rich clay soil resting on a compact limestone slab, contributes to the wine’s elegance and floral character, while most Cortons are planted in deeper clay soils, which produce wines of great power. Our Corton is very accessible, even young.

Critics thoughts - Medium red, a bit pale at the rim. Soil-inflected aromas of red fruits, potpourri spices, minerals, flowers and truffle. Plush, rich and fine-grained, showing terrific volume and breadth and a restrained sweetness to the flavors of red fruits, smoke and earth. This seamless, stylish wine boasts strong soil tones and an inviting, very smooth finish. A beauty--and perhaps deceptively accessible today.  93 Points Drink 2020-2032, Stephen Tanzer, Vinous

A lavish application of wood all but overwhelms the red currant, menthol, earth and pungent sauvage nuances. There is excellent punch to the large-scaled, intense and mineral-driven flavors that possess fine mid-palate concentration before terminating in a robust and moderately austere finish that delivers superb depth and seriously good length. This is an old school Corton and while not overtly rustic it's clear that this will require plenty of cellar time to arrive at its full apogee. In a word, excellent. Drink: 2027+  Score 93/100 · Allen Meadows, Burghound