A beautiful Auxey-Duresses from Cote de Beaune of Burgundy
Auxey-Duresses (pronounced “Aussey”) stands at the entrance to a valley which runs from the Côte de Beaune into the Hautes Côtes, following the road that leads from Beaune to Autun amongst hump-backed hillsides. Together with its hamlets of Petit-Auxey and Mélian, Auxey-Duresses is incontestably one of Bourgogne’s Celtic and Gallo-Roman wine-growing districts. It was formerly an outlying property of the abbey of Cluny, producing both grains and grapes. The corn-mills have now gone but there are still wine presses. Auxey-Duresses was granted its AOC status in 1937.
Nature determines which plots suit the white wines and which the red. On the hill of Bourdon, geologically an extension of Volnay and Monthélie, the soil is a pebbly marl limestone mix which gives vigour to the east/south-east facing vineyard of Duresses. The Climat “Climat du Val”, on the other hand, faces south and has very limey soil, while in La Chapelle marl predominates over limestone. And on the hill of Mélian, the fine-textured soil prefigures that of nearby Meursault and Puligny, the paradise of white wines.
The eye is caught by its pale straw colour and crystal clarity, matching its aromas of fresh almond and apple, to which are added biscuity and mineral (gunflint) notes. It tickles the palate in an agreeable fashion - sprightly when young, fuller and meatier with age, but always with good aromatic persistence.
This is a rich and concentrated style, which is harmoniously balanced with a beautifully integrated oak character and delicious mineral overtones through to an elegant finish.
It is likeable and lively, its fruit retains its fullness through a long finish and for this reason it goes well with prawns and fish in spicy sauces, as well as ratatouille and cooked shellfish. It can likewise be paired with cheeses of the Gruyère family, blue cheeses, and certain types of goat’s cheese. It is also a good match with seafood gratin or pairs with sushi platter beautifully.
