The ripe apple and spice of the initial attack seemed almost monolithic at first glance, but with time (and food), this wine took on surprising nuance and depth, with floral, mineral, and spice aromas developing with time. The texture was firm, almost phenolic, and lushly creamy, but as it evolved in the glass, the 2018 vintage showed surprising finesse and finished exceptionally well. The west-facing slopes on the Pernand side of the hill have sheltered the vines from the heat of 2018 to provide a dynamic wine that should develop gracefully for years.

Once picking started, the Bonneau du Martray team went at the harvest full tilt. The wine has been made mostly in barrel for the first year, but using a wide variety of containers: 350 litre, 500 litre, cigar shaped barrels and cement eggs. The decision was also taken to keep the wine on lees in tank for one month longer than usual. The yield was a manageable 44 hl/ha in 2018. Pale lemon colour. Very light reduction which also represents the sun on the stones. Plenty of character on the nose, lemony notes, middleweight but then I am tasting it after the 2019. Still a certain heat, then also some iodine. Crystalline, with a cooked stone finish. This will make a fine Corton-Charlemagne.

(92-94 points) A cool, pure and elegant nose combines notes of various white fleshed fruit scents that in particular include Granny Smith apples and pear, along with hints of citrus and wet stone. There is excellent intensity as well as fine richness to the detailed and mineral-driven flavors where the minerality adds a sense of lift to the complex and sneaky long finale. This is lovely and should be approachable a bit sooner than its 2017 counterpart.

A terrific effort in a vintage that often produced rather open-knit, soft white Burgundies, the 2018 Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru continues to perform very well. Mingling aromas of sweet citrus and stone fruits with notions of oatmeal, anise and flowers, it's medium to full-bodied, satiny and enveloping, exhibiting excellent depth at the core and impressive precision. Racy, charming and attractively complete, it stands out from its peers. - William Kelley

The 2018 Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru has a reductive nose but there is some fine fruit here, touches of orange pith, honeysuckle and melted candle wax. The palate is well balanced with a fine bead of acidity, a hint of wood to be subsumed on the entry, impressive depth with a slightly toasty finish. Tasted blind at the Burgfest 2018 white tasting. -- Neal Martin