Corton has enjoyed great fame in Burgundy ever since the Emperor Otho gave it his name in the 8th Century. The word "Corton" comes from curtis (the estate) and Othon (the Emperor). 

The hill of Corton is the most distinctive in Côte d'Or : it is massive, crowned by a forest of gnarly oak trees and, from a distance, looks like some kind of crouching animal. 

Through erosion, the soil is a mixture of ochre colours, with patches of clay and angular stones delineating various terroirs on the slope. This explains why there are other Grand Cru vineyards on the hill using the name Corton, such as Corton-Bressandes for instance. 

Corton (the real Corton) is not very large : it is situated at the top of the hill, right below the line of trees, facing South-East. Due to excellent drainage, the roots of the Pinot Noir must dig very deep through the rocky sub-soil for their subsistence. 

This is one of this wine's secrets : Corton is not made just at the surface of the vineyard, but deep below. 

One reason for the fame of Corton was its ability in the old days to travel very well. Nothing surprising, since Corton, in its youth, has a particularly firm structure. It is a wine which always needs some ageing, especially in a great vintage. 

Its colour is rather deep, its nose powerful and verging on candied fruit and spices when maturing. It has good structure in the mouth, without harshness. A good Corton must have "gras" (a velvety texture) to counterbalance tannin and acidity. On the palate, it recalls the candied fruit present in the nose. Very long and persistent, it ends on a very complex note. 

In Winter, there is nothing better than to open a bottle of an older Corton and to serve it with traditional, slowly cooked stew, or with some great venison !