Description
🏰 【 Winery Legend: Maison Pierre André 】
Maison Pierre André, located in the village of Aloxe-Corton in the Côte de Beaune, is deeply intertwined with the history of Burgundy. Its iconic Château de Corton André, featuring a traditional glazed tile roof, remains a historic landmark of the region. Founded in 1923 by Pierre André, the estate was driven by his profound passion for the Corton hill. During the mid-to-late 20th century, the domaine was renowned for producing traditionally crafted, firmly structured red Burgundies with immense aging potential. This 1997 Grand Cru serves as a liquid time capsule, showcasing the classic, old-school winemaking philosophy of the estate before its modern-day acquisitions.
🌿 【 Terroir and Winemaking 】
Les Hautes Mourottes is a distinctive lieu-dit within the Corton Grand Cru appellation, situated high on the slopes near the forestline on the Ladoix-Serrigny side. The terroir here is dominated by iron-rich clay and hard limestone. The higher altitude provides significant diurnal temperature variation, imparting the Pinot Noir with a robust structural framework and a profound, stony minerality.
In terms of Élevage (winemaking), the 1990s era of Pierre André relied on traditional, extended maceration and fermentation, followed by 15 to 18 months of aging in French oak barrels. While this old-school approach often yielded fiercely tannic wines in their youth, it built an irreplaceable, solid foundation for decades of bottle maturation.
📅 【 Vintage Analysis and Ratings 】
The 1997 Burgundy vintage was characterized by warm weather and an early harvest. The hot summer brought the grapes to excellent ripeness, producing red wines celebrated for their gentle acidity, exuberant fruit, and approachable tannins. After nearly three decades of careful cellaring, this 1997 Corton has completely shed its youthful Grand Cru austerity, transforming into a wine of elegant, multi-layered maturity.
🏅 Score: N/A (Vintage Reference)
"The 1997 red Burgundies are charming, round, and fruit-forward wines that offer considerable early appeal, developing beautiful sweet tertiary notes with age."
「1997 年的紅布根地是迷人、圓潤且果香奔放的葡萄酒，在年輕時便展現出極大的吸引力，並隨著陳年發展出美麗甜美的第三層次香氣。」 - Allen Meadows, Burghound (Vintage Overview)
🍷 【 Tasting Notes 】
👃 Aromas: Exudes an utterly captivating bouquet typical of mature Burgundy. Profound notes of autumn forest floor (sous-bois), dried rose petals, and aged leather emerge first, followed by nuances of black truffle, black tea leaves, and a subtle hint of dried fig.
👅 Palate: The once-formidable Grand Cru tannins have entirely melted, offering a texture as smooth as velvet. Medium-bodied, it displays a harmonious interplay of faded red plum and licorice, beautifully intertwined with a savory, earthy character.
✨ Finish: The finish is long, warming, and resonant, leaving lingering traces of cedarwood, dried spices, and the unique, sweet kiss of fully mature Pinot Noir.
🍽️ 【 Serving Guide 】
🌡️ Temperature: 16-18°C
⌛ Decanting: Decanting is strictly not recommended. Open 15-20 minutes before serving and pour directly into a Burgundy glass to allow it to awaken gently, preserving its fragile, mature aromas.
⏳ Drinkability: Drink now (At the tail-end of its peak maturity)
🍴 Pairing: Pairs phenomenally well with truffle roasted pigeon, classic Boeuf Bourguignon, pan-seared duck breast with cherry reduction, or an aged French Comté cheese.
💬 【 Manager's Pick 】
⚡ Finding a 1997 Corton Grand Cru like this is becoming incredibly rare! Maison Pierre André is a historic pillar in Aloxe-Corton. While Corton Grand Cru is notorious for its fierce tannins in its youth, nearly 30 years of aging has transformed this wine into pure silk. The truffle and leather aromatics are simply mesmerizing. The warm 1997 vintage has matured beautifully, making this wine sing perfectly right now. For lovers of traditional Burgundy seeking those profound earthy and tertiary notes, this is an absolute must-buy and offers incredible value! ⚡
⚠️ 【 Disclaimer 】 The above information is for reference only. Actual tasting experiences may vary depending on storage conditions and personal preference. While we strive for accuracy, please refer to official releases for final confirmation.
