Louis Latour Corton Charlemagne 2018

Louis Latour Corton Charlemagne 2018 is a Grand Cru white Burgundy made from 100% Chardonnay, bottled at 14.5% ABV in 750ml. Wine Spectator awarded it 95 points and ranked it #6 on their prestigious Top 100 Wines of 2021 list — a remarkable distinction for any white Burgundy. James Suckling scored it even higher at 97 points, underscoring the extraordinary quality of this vintage.

Quick Facts: ABV: 14.5%  |  Origin: Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru, Aloxe-Corton, Burgundy, France  |  Vintage: 2018  |  Producer: Maison Louis Latour / Domaine Louis Latour

Production & Heritage

Maison Louis Latour, founded in 1797, is one of Burgundy's most established négociant-éleveurs and one of the largest landholders in the Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru vineyard. The 2018 vintage was hand-harvested, with grapes pressed and fermented in 100% new French oak barrels before aging for eight to ten months. The Louis Latour cuverie — the first purpose-built winery in France and the oldest still functioning — uses a unique railway system with elevators that allows the entire winemaking process to proceed by gravity, eliminating the risk of oxidation from mechanical pumping. This gravity-fed approach is central to preserving the purity and precision that defines the domaine's Corton-Charlemagne.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: The nose opens with intense white stone fruit and fresh white peach before giving way to layers of fresh hazelnut, almond paste, and subtle vanilla from new oak. Honeysuckle and dried apple aromas emerge as the wine breathes, adding aromatic depth.

Taste: On entry, bright lemon and pear lead with vivid acidity, transitioning at mid-palate to richer notes of cream, cooked apple, and white flowers. The 2018 shows great tension throughout — the fruit generosity of the warm vintage is held in check by a pronounced mineral component, creating a sense of stone and salinity that drives through the palate.

Finish: The finish is long and finely textured, with lemon zest, butter, and pastry accents lingering well after the final sip. A thread of minerality persists, anchoring the richness and leaving the palate refreshed.

How to Drink Corton Charlemagne 2018

A Grand Cru of this caliber is best enjoyed on its own in a large-bowled white Burgundy glass at around 55–58°F, allowing the aromatic complexity to fully unfold. Slightly warmer than typical Chardonnay serving temperature helps reveal the wine's textural nuance. While primarily a wine for the table, it can work in refined settings where a splash of exceptional white Burgundy transforms a dish: alongside lobster thermidor, where its richness matches the sauce; with a classic poulet de Bresse in cream, echoing the wine's buttery mid-palate; or paired with seared scallops finished with brown butter and hazelnuts, mirroring the wine's nutty aromatics.

Best For

• Celebrating a milestone anniversary or career achievement
• Gifting a serious Burgundy collector or wine enthusiast
• Anchoring a multi-course fine dining experience at home
• Adding to a cellar for medium-term aging through 2030 and beyond

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Corton Charlemagne 2018 taste like? The dominant profile is rich white stone fruit and lemon supported by hazelnut, cream, and butter, with a pronounced mineral backbone that gives the wine structure and freshness despite its weight.

How does Louis Latour Corton Charlemagne compare to Bonneau du Martray Corton-Charlemagne? Both are benchmark producers within the same Grand Cru appellation, but Louis Latour ferments in 100% new French oak, producing a richer, more opulent style, whereas Bonneau du Martray typically uses a lower proportion of new oak for a leaner, more austere expression. The 2018 Louis Latour also earned a higher Wine Spectator score (95 points) and significant placement on their Top 100 list.

Is Corton Charlemagne 2018 good for cellaring? With its Grand Cru structure, mineral backbone, and the natural concentration of the 2018 vintage, this wine has strong aging potential and should continue developing complexity through at least 2030, though it already drinks beautifully now.

Where is Corton Charlemagne 2018 made? It is produced by Maison Louis Latour from their holdings in the Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru vineyard, located on the hill of Corton in Aloxe-Corton, within the Côte de Beaune sub-region of Burgundy, France.

What foods pair well with Corton Charlemagne 2018? Lobster or crab in butter sauce mirrors the wine's richness and nutty character. Roasted chicken with morel cream sauce complements its earthy undertones. Aged Comté cheese echoes the hazelnut and toasted notes. Seared foie gras with poached pear plays off the wine's stone fruit and acidity. Pan-seared turbot with beurre blanc highlights its mineral and citrus finish.

What sizes does Corton Charlemagne 2018 come in? The standard bottling is 750ml, which is the most widely available format.

Is Corton Charlemagne 2018 worth the price? This positions as an ultra-premium Grand Cru white Burgundy, and its 95-point Wine Spectator score with a Top 100 placement — alongside 97 points from James Suckling — places it among the most critically acclaimed white Burgundies of the vintage, justifying its standing in the upper tier of the category.

Why Corton Charlemagne 2018?

Wine Spectator's decision to rank this wine #6 on their 2021 Top 100 list — out of thousands reviewed — speaks directly to the quality of the 2018 vintage from Louis Latour's prime Grand Cru parcels. The gravity-fed winemaking in what remains France's oldest purpose-built cuverie, combined with fermentation in 100% new French oak, produces a Corton-Charlemagne that balances power and finesse in a way few producers in the appellation achieve. The warm 2018 growing season delivered exceptional fruit concentration, yet the wine retains the taut minerality and acidity that define great Corton-Charlemagne. For collectors and enthusiasts seeking one of the most decorated white Burgundies of recent years, this bottling stands on verified critical acclaim rather than reputation alone.