2011 Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru

Christophe Roumier's 2011s are just as gorgeous from bottle as they were from barrel. As was the case throughout the region, ripeness was lower than normal. The fruit came in at about 12% potential alcohol and required light chaptalizations. A good example of the slightly underripe character of the year can be found in the Chambolle villages. In 2011, Roumier used a lower percentage of whole clusters than in other recent vintages. The poor weather, especially during flowering, took with it a good 30-35% of the production.

Like a number of his colleagues, Christophe Roumier noted that the 2011 vintage was saved by millerandage, as the conditions of the growing season would not have been able to ripen a fuller crop of grapes.He describes 2011 as "more of a tannic than an acid vintage.The wines have good definition and are not at all rustic.The phenolics were ripe."In fact, Roumier noted that the phenolic ripeness came earlier in 2011 than in 2010, and that the 2011s have more tannins.Roumier destemmed a bit more than usual but did his normal extraction during vinification.He told me that he was surprised to find that the tannins were so ripe.The malos here finished quite late in the context of the vintage:between July and September.Roumier warned me before I started my tasting that the wines needed air, as they were quite reduced and holding a lot of CO2.Another superb result here.