Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru

The nose kicks off with the earthy blend of beeswax and walnut, before throwing in a curveball with hints of seafood. Taking a sip, there's buttery richness, a bit of green apricot's tartness, and the subtle char of toast. Its mineral backbone is a steady hand guiding you through these flavour twists and turns, ending on a sesame afternote. The balance? Almost spot on -- and for a 2011, that's no small feat. It wraps up with a tropical nod of canned pineapple. And yes, I'm kicking myself for blindly rating such a posh wine so high. My wallet might not forgive me!