Burgundy

This is a communal appellation located at the northern end of the Côte de Beaune (Côte d´Or) in Burgundy in France. Vineyards were first documented here as far back as 696 AD. As is the case with many communes in Burgundy, Aloxe appended its name to that of the most famous vineyard in 1862, and that happens to be the famous hill of Corton. The top of the hill is covered in forest, but the western, eastern and southern slopes are covered in vines. Emperor Charlemagne (742-814) presented the upper part of the hill to the abbey of Saint-Andoche in Saulieu in 775 as compensation for destruction wrought by the Sarazens. The property remained in the hands of the abbey until 1660. The Corton vineyard site totals around 260 hectares, and stretches over three communes, Aloxe-Corton, Pernand-Vergelesses and Ladoix-SerrignyLadoix. It is divided into two (three) Grand Cru sites and 14 Premier Cru sites. The white wines are made from Chardonnay, the red wines from Pinot Noir, with respectively small additions of Pinot Liébault and Pinot Gris being permitted.

The Grand Cru site Corton-Charlemagne was named in honour of the emperor of that name, and applies exclusively to white wines. The vineyard area totals 50 hectares, located in a narrow band on the upper section of the Corton hill, stretching from the commune of Ladoix-SerrignyLadoix and Pernand-Vergelesses. The red wine is made from Pinot Noir, with small additions of Pinot Gris and Pinot Liébault being permitted. White wine is made from Chardonnay in very small quantities. The total vineyard area is around 70 hectares, the reddish soil consists of marl and a layer rich in limestone and iron. The area is divided into 20 sub-zones, these are permitted to append their name to that of Corton, although this is not done out of principle in practice. They are: Les Bressandes (17,4 ha), Le Charlemagne, Les Chaumes, Les Chaumes et la Voierosse, Les Combes, Le Corton (sic), Les Fiètres, Les Grèves, Les Languettes, Les Maréchaudes (4,2 ha), Les Meix, Les Meix Lallemand, Les Paulands, Les Perrières (10 ha), Les Pougets, Les Renardes (11,3 ha), Le Rognet-Corton, Le Clos de Roi (10,7 ha), Les Vergennes and La Vigne au Saint.

The Premier Cru sites total 37,5 hectares of vineyard area. They are: Clos des Maréchaudes, Clos du Chapître (Les Meix), La Coutière, La Maréchaude, La Toppe au Vert, Les Chaillots, Les Fournières, Les Guérets, Les Maréchaudes, Les Moutottes, Les Paulands, Les Petites Lolières, Les Vazolières and Les Vercots. Wines from Grand Cru and Premier Cru sites make up more than half the total production. The remainder is sold under the Village appellation Aloxe-Corton. Well-known producers include Arnoux, Bichot (Domaine du Pavillon), Bonneau du Martray, Chapuis, Coche-Dury, Delarche, Domaine Leroy, Dubreuil-Fontaine, Faiveley, Hospices de Beaune, Jadot, Louis Latour, Prieur, Remoissenet, Tollot-Beaut and Verget.