AUXEY-DURESSES > BOUCHARD Ainé & Fils

AUXEY-DURESSES 2021

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2022 2023

Varietal

100% Pinot Noir.

Tasting notes

Colour: brilliant ruby red.

Nose: typical Pinot finesse, with aromas of red berries and hints of liquorice.

Palate: lacy on the palate, with elegant tannins, great finesse and perfect balance.

Food and wine pairing

Serve with pan-fried veal sweetbreads, grilled white meats, fried chicken, pork tenderloin, veal stew, or rack of lamb, poultry, chicken salad and a tasty pieces of tender and creamy cheese.

Serving suggestions

Serve ideally at a temperature of about 14-15°C (around 59°F).

Ageing potential

Drink from now and can be kept in the cellar for 4 to 7 years.

Origins

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.

Around 500,000 bottles are produced each year from this little-known Côte de Beaune appellation, whose specific terroirs offer some of the best value for money in Burgundy!

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.

Vinification and maturing

The grapes were completely destemmed but not crushed, and gravity-fed into the vats. Maceration lasted a total of 24 days, including one week at a cool temperature (12°C/53°F). Fermentation took place using only indigenous yeasts. The cap was punched down infrequently. Aged on the lees for 16 months without racking, using 40% new oak barrels.

Vintage : 2021

The 2021 vintage was a challenge for winegrowers right up until the very last day. From the frost in April, made worse by a very early start to the winegrowing season, right through to the September harvest, it was characterized by some brutal shifts in the weather. Winegrowers had to be extremely reactive and attentive. The only moment of respite came with flowering, which was ideal for fruit formation, and véraison, which was accompanied by sunshine from mid-August. In the end, hard work was rewarded with success, low volumes aside.

Aside from the low yields due to frost, and hail in June in certain parts of the Mâconnais, the grapes were sorted meticulously, both in the vines and in the winery.

Anyway, 2021 is an interesting vintage to work as it requires great technical skill and vinification must be very precise. Although fermentation was rapid, one had to pay a great deal of attention to the extraction of tannins and colour for the reds, and to the aromatic balance of the whites. The impression from the first tastings is that the musts have good aromatic potential and the sugar-acidity ratio suggests a style appreciated by fans of Bourgogne wines.