100% Pinot Noir.
Colour: Beautiful ruby red colour.
Bouquet: Notes of red fruits and liquorice.
Palate: Great elegant structure, well-balanced.
Enjoy it with grilled white meats, roast chicken, pork filet mignon, stir-fried veal or rack of lamb. It will also be perfect with a fine plate of fine charcuterie and soft, creamy cheeses.
Serve ideally at a temperature of around 14-15°C. (57-59°F.).
Drink from now and can be kept in the cellar for 4 to 7 years.
The village of Auxey-Duresses lies on the threshold of a valley that runs from the Côte de Beaune into the Hautes-Côtes de Beaune on the way to La Rochepot, with its emblematic glazed-tile castle, and the Morvan region.
Nestling back from the two flagship communes of Volnay and Meursault, the vineyard covers just 170 hectares, 130 of which are given over to red wines.
The vineyards are planted on very stony, marl-limestone soils, facing east and south-east on steep slopes at an average altitude of 250 metres.
2019 was a unique and very changeable year. It brought its own stresses for a great many producers, while harvesting passed without a hitch. The end result has inspired enthusiasm amongst winemakers, surpassing expectations. The weather was hot and dry, but the wines are promising a freshness that will delight fans of Bourgogne wines, with an indulgent side to boot. The only downside to this one is below-average volumes.
Winter was mild with temperatures higher than average in December, and again in February, when it was 2.2°C warmer than the norm. Rain was variable with a very wet December and much less precipitation in February. As such, the growth cycle started much earlier, with budburst slightly ahead of average in some areas.
Clement temperatures in March allowed the vines to spring back to life. More advanced plots reached the mid-budburst stage in the first days of April. But cold weather then arrived and frost on the morning of 5 April in particular left its mark that was more or less pronounced from sector to sector, depending on how low the temperature fell and which stage the vines had reached. This had an impact on yields, particularly in the Mâconnais. Temperatures remained low and the frost returned on 12 and 15 April, but the damage was much less significant. The vines didn’t return to growth until mid-April, when temperatures rose once again and the mid-budburst stage was reached in later plots.
Heat and a lack of rain were then the norm. In the majority of cases, the vines were in excellent health right through to harvest. Any occasional local issues with powdery mildew were quickly dealt with. The little rain that fell in August helped the vines develop and triggered véraison. It varied a great deal across the region, resulting in significant differences in terms of the development of the vines from one plot to another, and sometimes even within the same plot. This continued through to the harvest.
Overall, the vines stood up to this lack of rainfall pretty well, and showed good vigor through to picking. However, some places did suffer towards the end of the season, especially where the plants were younger, with the grapes suffering some scorching. The fine weather continued through the end of August and into September, and ripening happened at a good pace. Concentration was an issue in a few spots in September, but millerandage ensured the grapes retained their acidity through to the end.
Harvesting for the grapes used to make Crémant de Bourgogne began on 30 August, while that for grapes for still wines began a week later, and picking continued through to mid-October. This unusually long harvest was possible thanks to the excellent health of the grapes along with good weather. Given the differences in ripening from plot to plot, winegrowers were able to adapt to the pace the grapes matured. Location was not an issue - analysis of the maturity of the grapes and regular sampling of the berries were all that counted.
PDF file