Cuvée of personality crafted with precision, the Auxey-Duresses 1er Cru 2021, Comte Armand unfolds the refined grace of a great Pinot Noir from the Côte de Beaune. Sourced from two historic climats, Les Breterins and Les Duresses, this wine balances bright fruit with a structure of rare poise. It targets enthusiasts seeking a Burgundy red that combines aromatic intensity and elegance, the winemaker’s exacting touch and a faithful expression of terroir. At the table, it offers a clear gastronomic profile, able to accompany seasonal, subtly spiced cuisine where flesh and sap find a natural accord. This 1er Cru stands out for its lithe texture, measured depth and a finishing breath that invites the next glass, like a stroke of calligraphy on a blank page. Behind this clarity lies a philosophy: organic and biodynamic viticulture that favors the living balance of soils, careful observation of cycles and patience. In the 2021 vintage, everything converges toward a luminous harmony between pure fruit, silky texture and discreet salinity. A wine of both spirit and substance, designed for the table, conversation and memorable moments.

Blend and winemaking

This 1er Cru is made exclusively from Pinot Noir grown on the Les Breterins and Les Duresses parcels, two renowned climats of Auxey-Duresses. The vines, with an average age of around 40 years, are managed using organic and biodynamic practices, ensuring a healthy, expressive and balanced raw material. The harvest is fully destemmed to favour the finesse of the tannins. Fermentation takes place in wooden vats with indigenous yeasts, preserving the grape’s signature and the vintage’s dynamic. This is followed by a 18 months ageing in oak barrels, carefully controlled to refine the framework, polish the texture and add complexity to the bouquet without overpowering it. The wine is bottled at 14% ABV, framed by a straight energy and sustained by a filigree freshness.

Tasting notes

• Appearance : Clear and bright, with an appealing depth crossed by luminous highlights that promise a vibrant, pure juice.
• Nose : A complex bouquet shifting between delicate florals, red and black fruits, and a register of fine spices. Petal nuances, fresh berries and a hint of soft pepper compose a nuanced, refined aromatic profile.
• Palate : Precise attack, concentrated core without heaviness, silky tannins and lively length. The grain is elegant, the thread spicy, and the finish stretches on freshness with a sense of balance and relief that calls for gastronomic pairing.

Serving temperature and tips

Serve between 16 and 17°C in Burgundy-style red glasses to highlight the wine’s airy texture and the complexity of the bouquet. A gentle decant or airing for about thirty minutes before serving helps to harmonise the spicy elements and the fruit. This 1er Cru can be enjoyed now for its youthful radiance, or cellared for up to 10 years in a cool, dark and stable cellar to reveal more tertiary nuances and added depth over time.

Food pairings

• Aperitifs : thin slices of jambon persillé, poultry rillettes, Comté gougères to underline the wine’s freshness and silkiness.
• Starters : hand-cut beef tartare, light game terrine, mushroom velouté with toasted hazelnuts.
• Main courses : roast venison with reduced jus, herb-roasted lamb with a short jus, guinea fowl supreme, pink duck breast, porcini risotto.
• Cheeses : Brillat-Savarin well-aged, moderately aged Époisses, mature Comté, Tomme du Jura, soft washed-rind affinages.
• Desserts : lightly sweetened red fruit tart, spiced roasted pears, Morello cherry entremets to extend the fruity lift.

Tasting occasions

The Auxey-Duresses 1er Cru 2021, Comte Armand, is the ideal companion for:

• Celebrating an intimate dinner where finesse is paramount and conversation lingers.
• Seasonal pairings around a roasted joint and root vegetables.
• As a gift for an enthusiast, to be cellared for a few years to reveal new aromatic layers.

Details

• Name : Auxey-Duresses 1er Cru 2021, Comte Armand
• Appellation : Auxey-Duresses 1er Cru AOC
• Type : Red wine, Pinot Noir
• Vintage : 2021
• Grape : Pinot Noir (100%)
• Parcels : Les Breterins and Les Duresses
• Viticulture : organic and biodynamic
• Winemaking : total destemming, indigenous yeasts, wooden vats
• Ageing : 18 months in oak barrels
• Alcohol : 14% ABV
• Cellaring : up to 10 years
• Serving temperature : 16 to 17°C