There are 33 Grand Cru appellations in Burgundy. Corton is the only one that produces both red and white. And within Corton, the Clos du Roi — the King's Enclosure — is the parcel that commands the most reverence from serious Burgundy collectors. It sits on the southwestern flank of the Corton hill, protected by the Bois de Corton forest above, facing south and southeast on ferrous limestone marl soils that give the wine its signature structure: muscular, wild, and concentrated in a way that no village-level Pinot Noir can replicate. Vines have been cultivated on this exact ground since the 7th century.

Maison Olivier Leflaive was founded in 1984 by Olivier Leflaive, a member of the legendary Leflaive family whose roots run through the most celebrated white Burgundy estates in Puligny-Montrachet. Olivier built his own négociant house from the ground up, assembling a range that today spans Burgundy's greatest appellations, with this Corton Clos du Roi among its most distinguished red wines. Every vintage across this wine's track record — 91, 92, 92, 92, 94 points through the documented modern history — confirms this is not a wine chasing the spotlight. It earns its place quietly, on merit.

The winemaking approach reflects the terroir's ambitions. Grapes farmed to HVE Level 3 environmental standards are harvested entirely by hand, received as whole clusters, and fermented in stainless steel for 16 days before moving to 100% oak aging with 25% new French barrels.

The 2023 Burgundy growing season delivered excellent fruit concentration and fine structure in the Côte de Beaune, with Corton's naturally powerful terroir delivering a vintage that rewards those with patience.