2021, Comte Armand, AUXEY-DURESSES, 1er Cru

12 barrels here, so not so bad. The usual almost purple-black colour of this cuv?e offers plenty of energy. Dark berry fruit, with a rather stricter finish, and reasonably prominent acidity. ***88-89 Jasper Morris MW.

The 2021 Auxey-Duresses 1er Cru is a blend of two lieux-dits that were less impacted by the frost than elsewhere. It has a perfumed blackcurrant, cassis and violet-scented bouquet that shows a little more precision than the Village Cru. The palate is medium-bodied with a sappy entry, fine acidity and gentle grip with blue fruit towards its relatively opulent finish. Fine. 87-89 Neal Martin.

The Auxey premier cru shows a better ripeness than the village-level wine. The colour is still fairly deep, but the fruit character is more mulberry than pomegranate, and there are notes of spice and smoke. There is appreciably more density here, with firm tannins and fresh acidity but nothing astringent or tart. This wine is a blend of Bret?rins and Bas de Duresses; the grapes were destemmed 100% and given a cold soak prior to a brief fermentation and a post-fermentation maceration prior to ageing in cask. 90 Charles Curtis MW, Decanter.

Drinking Window: 2026 - 2030