2020 Charles Lachaux Aloxe-Corton Les Valozières

Charles Lachaux is the eponymous label of the young man who relatively recently took over managing and winemaking at the venerable Arnaux-Lachaux (formerly known as Robert Arnaux) in the village of Vosne Romanee in Burgundy. The Lachaux wines are built around the Aligote grape from both his family’s vineyards and other small plantings in Burgundy. The wines were an immediate sensation and have, since their launch with the 2018 vintage, because extraordinarily difficult to find. The Aligote bottling, including the coveted Les Champs d’Argent, is often produced from grapes taken from very old vineyards that earlier had been sold for inclusion in mass production Burgundy. The Charles Lachaux label is giving these old Aligote plantings a new spotlight. Bid on Charles Lachaux wine online on WineBid today!

Aloxe-Corton is one of the most historic appellations in Burgundy. It includes the communes of Aloxe-Corton and Ladoix-Serrigny. The Romans settled in the area and made wine, and in the eighth century Emperor Charlemagne was so impressed with the wine from Aloxe-Corton that he bought land and founded an abbey. The famous Grand Cru Chardonnay Corton-Charlemagne was named for the emperor, who, according to legend, switched from drinking red wine to white because his wife disliked red wine stains on his white beard. The AOC Aloxe-Corton includes 13 Premier Crus and 220 acres of village vineyards. Nearly all of the wine produced is red, and the reds are known for spicy, earthy, tannic character. At the heart of the appellation is the Montagne de Corton, or Hill of Corton, which is home to the Grand Crus of the area. The Chardonnay vineyards are at the top of the hill, but further down the hill is planted to Pinot Noir. All 22 Grand Cru vineyards on Montagne Corton produce wines that include the name Corton. All are reds except for the legendary Chardonnay Corton-Charlemagne.

This red wine is relatively light and can pair with a wide variety of foods. The grape prefers cooler climates and the wine is most often associated with Burgundy, Champagne and the U.S. west coast. Regional differences make it nearly as fickle as it is flexible.