Domaine Faiveley Corton Grand Cru Clos des Cortons Faiveley 2002 750ml

Still deep ruby color. The expressive nose remains cool and fresh with its notes of menthol, wood, red and dark currant and pungent humus-inflected earth scents. The highly energetic broad-shouldered flavors are robust and muscular though not particularly rustic on the mineral-suffused finish that is still quite firm thanks to the somewhat strict tannins. This is a wine where it’s not quite accurate to describe it as tough but it would be fair to say that the ’02 is not a refined Corton. I would further observe that while it’s nowhere near ready, it’s also not clear that the fruit is going to outlast the structure. In short, this is presently in a bit of ‘no man’s land’ where it’s definitely not ready now but it may not necessarily repay extended keeping either. In short, pessimists will opt to drink this now with food and optimists will settle in for an extended holding period.

• Country: France
• Region: Burgundy
• Appellation: Cote De Beaune
• Sub Appellation: Corton
• Size: 750ml
• Color: Red

Varietal

Pinot Noir

Regularly described as being the grape varietal responsible for producing the world’s most romantic wines, Pinot Noir has long been associated with elegance and a broad range of flavors The name means ‘black pine’ in French, and this is due to the fact that the fruit of this particular varietal is especially dark in color, and hangs in a conical shape, like that of a pine cone. Despite being grown today in almost every wine producing country, Pinot Noir is a notoriously difficult grape variety to cultivate. This is because it is especially susceptible to various forms of mold and mildew, and thrives best in steady, cooler climates. However, the quality of the fruit has ensured that wineries and vintners have persevered with the varietal, and new technologies and methods have overcome many of the problems it presents. Alongside this, the wide popularity and enthusiasm for this grape has ensured it will remain a firm favorite amongst wine drinkers for many years to come.