From DRC to Domaine Cornu — discover Burgundy's best value quality label!

The words bargain and Burgundy are rarely used in the same sentence these days. Domaine Cornu is one of the few exceptions. The latest offering delivers exceptional value white and reds from the Hautes Cotes along with small parcels of Savigny Les Beaune and a very limited offering of Corton Grand Cru.

Domaine Cornu is located in the village of Magny Les Villers, nestled up behind the Hill of Corton and right in the heart of the Cote d’Or. Alex Cornu has been the winemaker since 2008, taking over from his father Claude who previously worked for many years with Aubert de Villaine at Romanee Conti (DRC) before returning to the family business and growing the family holdings to 20 hectares.

All wines are crafted from exclusively Domaine owned plots and the farming is environmentally sympathetic with Lutte Raisoneé practiced in the vineyards resulting in pure whites and muscular reds that age well. The winemaking ethos sees wild yeasts for both white and red wines with all red wines being 100% destemmed while the oak for elevage is sourced predominantly from Francois Fréres.

The new wines are almost all from the 2021 harvest, one of the smallest volumes in many years due to the April frosts, however the harvest was blessed with a gentle summer and no disease pressure, resulting in wines that are vibrant, energetic and have the freshness and aromatics that make Burgundy so compelling and unique for Chardonnay & Pinot Noir lovers.

Some of you may recall that I visited Cornu several years ago, ultimately buying what I believed to be the ‘best barrel in the winery from the Domaine’s 2016 vintage’. That wine, the 2016 Cornu Les Rognets Corton Grand Cru, continues to evolve into a delicious, ethereal wine. Recent vintages of the whites have also been superb, offering up exquisite White Burgundy/Chablisesque aromas & flavour that really leaves one stunned at just how much goodness and value Burgundy can truly deliver.