Terroir Insight: Domaine Michel Mallard Corton-Charlemagne

Ladoix-Serrigny is one of three villages which cradle the Corton hill, Aloxe-Corton and Pernand-Vergeleses being the others.

Like Pernand, the village of Ladoix is overshadowed by the reputation of the Corton vineyard, and by Aloxe-Corton’s famous name. That goes equally for its vineyards and vignerons.

Nowadays, the most prominent producer in Ladoix is Michel Mallard, who runs his large estate there while simultaneously being winemaker and manager of Domaine d`Eugénie in Vosne-Romanee.

But let’s focus on Corton, and go to up the hill to Mallard’s Corton-Charlie!

Ladoix – nestled below the big hill

Domaine Michel Mallard was founded in 1952 by Michel Mallard – the grandfather of the current nameholder. The estate has 13 ha around the Corton hill, producing 16 appellations in total. It is located in the centre of Ladoix-Serrigny on the RD974 – the main road through Burgundy – just south of where the Côte de Nuits meets the Côte de Beaune.

Michel Mallard took over from his father in 2005 and is now running the family estate with his parents’ help – while also making the wines at d’Eugenie.

Domaine Mallard has plots in Corton Les Maréchaudes, Corton Le Rognet, Corton Renardes and last, its smallest: Corton-Charlemagne. All four are made and bottled separately. These are wines to look for (just sayin’).

The Domaine Michel Mallard plot of Corton-Charlemagne

The Mallard Corton-Charlemagne plot is located in the core of the Le Charlemagne lieu-dit, just above one of Domaine de la Romanée-Conti’s plots.

Le Charlemagne is quite a large chunk of Corton – 16.95 ha in total, covering the south/southwestern end of the hill from top to bottom (see map below).

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