Comte Armand : Auxey-Duresses 1er cru 2018

Characteristics and tasting advice for the Auxey-Duresses 1er Cru 2018 from Comte Armand

Tasting

Color

The color shows a ruby red hue.

Nose

The nose reveals aromas of red fruits, raspberries, plums, and spices.

Palate

On the palate, this wine offers a medium to full body, a charming character, and a succulent expression. The whole is built on bright acidity and supple, elegant tannins. The attack is smooth and immediately engaging, while the finish lingers with crisp acidity and fine tannins that bring structure and refinement.

Food and wine pairings

This wine pairs perfectly with white meats, prosciutto, and fine cured meats. It also goes very well with veal dishes, roast pork, grilled meat skewers, rabbit, or poultry. More daringly, it matches herb pasta, chicken or seasonal vegetable risottos, and even simply prepared grilled fish.

Serving and cellaring

The Auxey-Duresses 1er Cru 2018 is ideally served between 15 and 17°C. About thirty minutes of aeration before serving allows the aromas to fully develop. This wine can be enjoyed from 2022, reaches its peak between 2024 and 2028, and can be cellared until around 2034.

An Auxey-Duresses Premier Cru from Burgundy combining elegance and structure

The estate

The Domaine Comte Armand traces its origins to the late 18th century with the creation of the Clos des Épeneaux by Nicolas Marey. The property was acquired by the Comte Armand family in 1828. Today, Olivier Armand is the owner and oversees nine hectares of vines. Since 2014, Paul Zinetti has managed viticultural and winemaking operations as estate manager. The estate is certified organic and biodynamic by ECOCERT, reflecting a deep commitment to practices that respect the environment and Burgundy’s terroir.

The vineyard

The Auxey-Duresses 1er Cru comes from two distinct Premier Cru climats: Les Breterins and Les Duresses. Les Breterins features lighter, whiter soils with a due south exposure, encouraging a fruity, fresh expression. Les Duresses offers denser brown clay soils with a southeast orientation, producing wines with greater density and tannic structure. This complementary terroir profile makes it possible to craft a harmonious wine in which power and elegance coexist. The limestone soils, with around 30% active limestone, lend the wine mineral precision and subtle tension. The vines are located between 260 and 360 meters above sea level on slopes of 20 to 40%.

The vintage

The 2018 vintage ranks among the finest of the decade in Burgundy. The mild, rainy winter allowed for good water reserves to build up in the soils. The sunny, mild spring passed without major frost damage, despite a few localized hail episodes in June. Summer proved remarkably hot and dry, with consistently high temperatures and limited rainfall. The moisture accumulated during winter and spring enabled the vines to manage summer water stress effectively. Vineyard health was exceptional as harvest approached, with minimal disease pressure. Harvest took place in early September under ideal conditions, with generous sunshine.

Vinification and aging

The grapes destined for the Auxey-Duresses 1er Cru 2018 are fully destemmed and not crushed before being transferred by gravity into the fermentation vats. A cold soak of five to eight days at controlled temperatures of 13 to 14°C precedes fermentation. Spontaneous fermentation, driven by indigenous yeasts, lasts five to ten days. A post-fermentation maceration of three to fifteen days follows the main fermentation. Aging lasts eighteen months in oak barrels, around 25% of which are new. The wine is not fined, and filtration is applied selectively.

Grape variety

100% Pinot Noir