Aloxe-Corton, a small village of charm at the northern end of the Côte de Beaune in Burgundy. First references to vineyards in Aloxe date back to 696, while in 775 charlemagne ceded vines to the Abbey of St-Andoche at Saulieu. Aloxe is dominated by the hill of Corton, planted on three sides with vineyards including the grands crus Corton (almost all red) and Corton-Charlemagne (white).
Corton is the sole grand cru appellation for red wine in the côte de beaune and covers several vineyards which may be described simply as Corton or as Corton hyphenated with their names. While all Corton tends to be a dense, closed wine when young, Bressandes is noted for its comparative suppleness and charm; Renardes for its rustic, gamey character; Perrières for extra finesse; and Clos du Roi for the optimum balance between weight and elegance. It is often regarded as the finest of the Corton vineyards. Other Corton vineyards are Le Charlemagne, Les Pougets, and Les Languettes, all of which more often produce white Corton-Charlemagne, and Les Chaumes, Les Grèves, Les Fiètres, Les Meix, Clos de la Vigne au Saint, and part of Les Paulands and Les Maréchaudes. Further Corton vineyards extend into ladoix-Serrigny. Although Corton is planted almost entirely with Pinot Noir vines, a tiny amount of white Corton is made, including the hospices de beaune cuvée Paul Chanson from Chardonnay.
