Born in the heart of a Burgundian hollow where the light kisses the slopes at dawn, the Auxey-Duresses Village 2018 from Domaine Taupenot-Merme expresses the grace of a modest terroir that speaks softly but truly. Here, the vine roots itself in a patchwork of limestone and marl, promising a mineral purity that sculpts the chardonnay with subtlety. Raised in the spirit of a house attentive to precision, this wine offers a clear and nuanced story, an aromatic thread where citrus meets dried fruit, and where the texture coils on fine lees to better highlight freshness. For the lover seeking a racé yet inviting Burgundy white, for the epicurean who wants to set a luminous table without ostentation, this cuvée provides a royal path: balance and clarity. Its enveloping structure, served by a subtle oak, enhances delicate dishes and naturally accompanies moments of sharing, when the French art of living calls for refined simplicity and sensual pleasure.

Blend and vinification

Made entirely from chardonnay, this Auxey-Duresses draws its verticality from vines of around 40 years. After harvest, the must is gently cooled for 24 hours to 12°C then carefully racked to preserve aromatic clarity. The alcoholic fermentation takes place in stainless steel at low temperature to capture the fruit's brightness, before transfer to French oak barrels of which 25% is new, ensuring textured relief without disguise. Native yeasts guide the wine’s birth, giving it a faithful and nuanced sense of place. The ageing of about 10 months on the lees, without racking, promotes silkiness and complexity, while the malolactic fermentation smooths the edges with restraint. Bottling occurs after a light filtration, the final note of a journey combining uprightness, precision and discreet elegance.

Tasting notes

• Appearance : Very pale gold with green highlights, bright and clear, like workshop light on a freshly varnished canvas, heralding a wine both pure and vibrant.
• Nose : First impressions of fresh citrus, lemon and pink grapefruit, joined by reinette apple and a fine thread of dried fruit. With aeration, notes of almond, a touch of chalk and a hint of floral infusion appear, like a morning stroll through an orchard still pearled with dew.
• Palate : An enveloping entry with silky contours. The flesh unfolds generously, carried by a discreet acidity that lengthens the profile without harshness. The aromatic core resonates on dried fruit, citrus peel and a subtle saline note, the finish being clean, precise and perfectly balanced, inviting both table and contemplation.

Serving temperature and tips

Serve this Auxey-Duresses at around 10 to 12°C in generously shaped stemmed glasses to allow the texture to unfold and to channel the aromatic freshness. A slight aeration, a few minutes before serving, lets the wine reveal its citrus and dried fruit nuances more fully. Store bottles away from light, in a cool place and on their side to preserve the fruit’s purity. Enjoyable today for its brightness, it will gain harmony with a short cellaring, revealing richer notes and greater depth while keeping the mineral drive that defines it.

Food pairings

• Aperitifs : golden gougères, herb fish rillettes, caramelised onion tartlets, for a tasty and refined starter.
• Starters : sea bream carpaccio, white asparagus with mousseline sauce, sea bass ceviche with citrus, which respond gracefully to the chardonnay's tension.
• Main courses : baked fish, pike quenelles with Nantua sauce, pike-perch with beurre blanc, and with development, poultry in cream sauce or veal with morels.
• Cheeses : brillat-savarin, comté jeune, chèvre frais, whose creaminess pairs with the wine's enveloping softness.
• Desserts : lightly sweetened thin lemon tart, almond financier, citrus shortbread, to finish the meal with measured elegance.

Occasions

Domaine Taupenot-Merme signs here a white to be enjoyed both in an intimate tête-à-tête and at a joyful table. Its finesse without stiffness and controlled generosity make it an ideal companion for moments when the cuisine celebrates the season and balance. Given to a Burgundy enthusiast, it embodies a tasteful gift, both accessible and distinctive, that anchors sharing in a lasting sensory memory.

• For an intimate gastronomic dinner, when every detail composes a harmonious picture.
• At a bright Sunday lunch, around a roasted fish and market vegetables.
• As an elegant gift for a chardonnay lover who appreciates great balance.

Characteristics

• Name : Auxey-Duresses Village 2018, Domaine Taupenot-Merme
• Appellation : Auxey-Duresses AOC
• Type : Dry white wine
• Vintage : 2018
• Grape variety : Chardonnay (100%)
• Terroir : limestone and marl soils, plot of about 0.30 ha, south and south-east exposures, altitude 260 to 360 m
• Vines : average age around 40 years
• Viticulture : managed in organic farming (non-certified) since 2001
• Winemaking : racking, fermentation in stainless steel at low temperature, native yeasts
• Aging : about 10 months on the lees without racking, French oak barrels of which 25% new, light filtration at bottling
• Aromatic profile : citrus, dried fruit, reinette apple, controlled balance and freshness
• Recommended pairings : baked fish, quenelles, fine charcuterie, poultry in cream sauce with development