Picked early, on August 29th. Pale colour with a clear fresh chiselled nose. After a while some refined citrus notes start to appear and a little touch of oak. Lean but with adequate flesh, all in white fruit, on the stones, and with excellent persistence.

The 2018 Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru comes from east-facing vineyards within the Les Languettes, a small production of six barrels. It has a closed and stubbornly backward bouquet that is outflanked by the Clos des Mouches Blanc. The tensile palate delivers good acidity and notes of orange zest and light peach notes, quite pure, and a spicy stem ginger and salty peanut finish. Very fine. (NM)

A much more restrained nose reluctantly offers up its array of exceptionally floral-infused aromas that include those of acacia, lilac and rose petal along with hints of Granny Smith apples and lemongrass. There is outstanding volume and power to the relatively refined larger-scaled flavors that are much, much more mineral-driven on the youthfully austere, serious and compact finish. This beauty will need at least a few years of keeping first and should amply reward 10 to 12.