Chanson is the main operator with the Hospices de Beaune of this small vineyard located on a hilltop of the Corton hill facing due east. It belonged to the Count of Vergennes, a native of Dijon and minister of King Louis XVI who co-signed with Benjamin Franklin the Treaty of Franco-American Alliance in 1778, a treaty which made France the first country to recognize the very young America.

After a very rainy winter followed by an episode of strong heat in April, which was replaced by a very cold period in May, the heat settled in Burgundy for a long time from June. It was also punctuated by heat waves sometimes causing a lack of water that the clay soils by their composition compensated in many plots. The harvest began in the very last days of August and the harvested grapes presented a very good sanitary condition. The white wines are fresh and tense on a beautiful fruit.

Beautiful brilliant golden color. Floral fragrances on aromas of white and yellow flesh fruits (peach, apricot), almond and honey. Slight mineral note. Complex and concentrated. Dense and deep texture. Well integrated acidity, delicate oak. Long and elegant finish. Pair with seafood, foie gras, fish in sauce or lobster. It goes particularly well with cheeses.

Jean-Pierre Confuron, Chanson’s winemaker, describes the 2018 vintage as follows: “an extraordinary vintage in every sense. The growing season veered from too wet to too hot and finally too dry, which made deciding when to pick a real challenge. We ultimately decided to begin on the 1st of September with our Domaine vineyards. Yields were quite variable though overall quite good and potential alcohols were also varied at between 13 and 14.5%. As we usually do, the vinifications were done using 100% whole clusters for all the wines, save for the Nuits villages because it was hailed on, and thankfully, there were no difficulties with stoppages.” Overall we can say that the wines produced in 2018 express the richness and pleasantness of the vintage while keeping the elegance and the balance that Domaine Chanson is known for.