Domaine Marius Delarche Grand Cru Corton-Charlemagne 1998

Burgundy from Domaine Marius Delarche stands as an example of what great wine can and should be: both memorable and affordable.

Winemaker Etienne Delarche heads his family's winery of just over 20 acres of vineyards in the appellations of Pernand-Vergelesses and Aloxe-Corton.

It was Etienne's grandfather, Marius, in the 1950s who started winemaking in earnest, when he began cultivating the vines of his wife Jeanne's family. Marius' son, Philippe, in 1987 expanded the family domaine, planting new vineyards and building an underground cellar, just steps from the noble grand cru vineyard of Corton-Charlemagne. Philippe passed away after a prolonged illness in 2008, and his son Etienne, having recently finished his studies in Beaune, took over.

The estate farms its vineyards sustainably, keeping to organic principles (but is not certified). Some vineyards are plowed by horse, where work with a tractor is either impractical or impossible. All wines are aged in French oak barrels for 12 to 16 months before bottling.