Vines planted in 1978. Vineyards are sustainably farmed, all grapes are harvested by hand and sorted, 100% of the grapes are de-stemmed, parcels are all vinified separately in open-topped, wooden vats, natural fermentations with indigenous yeasts. Grapes macerate for several days at 15°-17° Celsius, then must goes through alcoholic fermentation with occasional punch-downs and pump-overs. Must pressed gently by pneumatic press. Jus de presse is blended in with first press wine to settle for 24-48 hours, wines are racked by gravity directly into oak fûts deep into the cellar below the winery. The percentage of new oak varies with the vintage and appellation. Wines enjoy a long, slow élévage before being bottled unfined and unfiltered.
Domaine Follin-Arbelet represents the type of small, family-run operation that continues to make wine comme autrefois—the way it used to be done. In Burgundy, this means farming several minuscule plots with the goal of revealing the distinctive characteristics of each, to highlight that vineyard’s terroir. Vinifications are in the old-school style, fermenting slowly in open-top wooden vats, using only indigenous yeasts, and the wines are bottled in all of their unadulterated glory, unfined and unfiltered. This Corton will make a magnificent addition to any cellar: it is an exercise in finesse and class, along with the power and depth you expect from this top terroir.
"The majestic hill of Corton, just north of Beaune, is the only place in Burgundy (besides the exceptionally scarce Musigny blanc) where white and red can both lay claim to grand cru status. Both can be found in the depths of Franck Follin’s cellar in Aloxe-Corton, a dark and mystical place where dreams of old-school Burgundian artisanship come true. His Corton is a reverie of sensual, pure-fruited Pinot Noir, its opulent fragrance of ripe cherry, violets, and sandalwood soaring atop a dense web of lace-like tannins. Made for the cellar, it can also be enjoyed right away to experience the sheer pleasure of a sumptuous, youthful Pinot." - Kermit Lynch Wine Merchant