2008 Corton Renardes
By Domaine Leroy
2008 Corton Renardes from Domaine Leroy, Burgundy, France
In the pantheon of Burgundy's terroirs, Corton Renardes holds a revered spot, and the vinous offerings by Domaine Leroy are indeed the jewels in that crown. The 2008 vintage from this illustrious producer stands as a testament to the profound complexities and ageing potential that define Corton’s grand crus.
A Vintage Shaped by Nature's Whims
The 2008 vintage was marked by an erratic start, with a challenging growing season that ultimately culminated in a smaller yield. However, true to the perseverance emblematic of Burgundy vintners, Domaine Leroy transcended these climatic hurdles to fashion a wine of incredible finesse and structure. This triumph underscores the investment-worthiness of wines capable of not only surviving but thriving under such testing conditions.
On The Nose and Palate: 2008 Corton Renardes’ Distinct Characteristics
Upon the first approach, the 2008 Corton Renardes from Domaine Leroy reveals an intoxicating bouquet – red cherries and ripe strawberries interlace with sophisticated earthy tones, evoking a walk through autumnal forests. A second layer unveils subtle hints of truffle and aged leather, hallmark nuances achieved through meticulous ageing and careful stewardship in the cellar.
What truly sets this vintage apart is its unexpected vibrancy on the palate. A lively acidity carries notes of cranberry and red currant while mingling seamlessly with finely-grained tannins, creating a consummate balance reflective of the wine's noble heritage. Fully matured yet boasting a reservoir of energy suggesting further potential for development – an enticing prospect for any collector or investor.
It goes without saying that due diligence in cellaring will promise rewarding experiences upon revisiting this remarkable vintage. The interplay of terroir-driven specificity with the vagaries of climate showcased in this bottle may serve as an illuminating study for any enthusiast keen to behold the dance between wine and weather over time.
In summarising, the 2008 Corton Renardes from Domaine Leroy emerges not merely as a beverage but as an artefact; it captures an extraordinary moment in time for the region and distils it into a sensorial narrative rich with nuance. For investors, this wine represents more than mere liquid luxury; it is a vignette of viticultural resilience and finesse – attributes that undeniably commend its place in any well-curated portfolio.
Current market price
£42,600.00
12x75cl
Highest score
93
POP score
3276.92
Scores and tasting notes
Dark cherry and cassis infused with juniper berry, chalk dust, and decomposing wood provocatively scent the Leroy 2008 Corton Renardes, the addition of cherry pit bitterness on its silken palate pulling it in an almost austere direction from which the essential primary fruit juiciness so typical for the best of this vintage pulls it back. Beneath the layer of satin one senses a fine-grained structure as formidable as are this wine’s sense of somehow tasteable chalky mother rock and the vino-electric power dammed up behind it. This is a model of rectitude and its finish of pure, unwavering penetration. It’s also more latent than actualized. To follow its evolution over the next 20 or more years would be thrilling. Lalou Bize-Leroy reports average 2008 Pinot Noir yields of 13 hectoliters per hectare, almost absurdly tiny even by her singular standards. Malos were a bit later than usual but were finished by summer, and the wines bottled – as usual – in December. Yet – also as usual – if their development was thereby in any way stunted, you certainly won’t detect it in the bottle today! The best of these display a sense of transparency; levity; and – even when rich and head-spinningly complex – a sheer sense of refreshment and invigoration that I have seldom encountered in other great wines from these sister estates. (Please note that my account of the complete 2007 red collection at Leroy was published in issue #189.) Importer: Martine’s Wines. Novato, CA; tel. (415) 883-040
David Schildknecht - The Wine Advocate, 28 June 2010