2024 Charles Lachaux Aloxe-Corton 1er Cru Les Valozieres
Charles Lachaux
Charles Lachaux is currently one of the most dynamic and intensely watched winemakers in Burgundy, representing a radical shift in modern viticulture. As the head of Domaine Arnoux-Lachaux and his eponymous négoce project, his philosophy centers on an unwavering commitment to the vineyard. Lachaux has pioneered extreme high-density planting and a unique method of vine training called pissage (coiling the canopy over instead of hedging it), which minimizes stress on the plant and preserves natural sap flow. In the cellar, his approach is hands-off yet meticulous: utilizing high proportions of whole-cluster fermentation, minimizing sulfur additions, and significantly reducing or eliminating the use of new oak to allow the pure, vertical expression of the terroir to take center stage. His wines are defined by their vibrant energy, floral aromatic perfume, and tense, chiseled structure, making them highly allocated allocations targeted heavily by elite private collectors globally. Charles Lachaux Aloxe-Corton 1er Cru Les Valozieres 2024
The 2024 Aloxe-Corton 1er Cru Les Valozières showcases raw energy balanced by structural focus. Sourced from the premier cru vineyard situated at the base of the Hill of Corton, this wine benefits from iron-rich clay and limestone soils that naturally impart a muscular, vertical depth. The 2024 vintage required meticulous execution, yielding a wine with intense aromatic purity and a beautifully chiseled profile. Lachaux’s minimalist barrel regime and mastery of whole-cluster vinification prevent the natural power of Aloxe-Corton from becoming heavy, resulting in an athletic, precise Burgundy built on tension and mineral drive.
Appellation: Aloxe-Corton 1er Cru Les Valozières
Vintage: 2024
Alcohol Content: 13.0%
Grape Variety: 100% Pinot Noir
Aging: 12 to 14 months in seasoned French oak barrels (0% to 10% new oak to avoid wood extraction and protect fruit purity).
Vinification: Up to 100% whole-cluster fermentation depending on parcel sorting; native yeast fermentation; minimal sulfur deployment; unfiltered and unfined to preserve raw phenolic architecture.
Tasting Notes: A high-toned, perfumed bouquet dominated by wild red currants, pomegranate, dried rose petals, and crushed chalk. The palate is electric and energetic, displaying compact red fruit definitions framed by tense, crunchy tannins and a sapid, intensely chalky, echoing finish.
Food Pairing: Pan-seared duck breast with a sour cherry reduction, roasted squab with wild thyme infusions, or seared chanterelles in a rich reduction over polenta.
Historical Ratings
2023: 92–94 pts (Jasper Morris, Inside Burgundy)
2022: 93–94 pts (Neal Martin, Vinous)