Auxey-Duresses 1er Cru Rouge, Les Grands Champs 2022, Domaine Henri Latour

Auxey-Duresses, an affordable alternative to wine from Volnay

A concentrated red Pinot Noir with a rich and complex taste and a beautiful finish. Lots of red fruit. Cassis, cherry, cocoa, forest floor. The nose is of smoky oak, violets, herbs and ripe raspberries with volume tones of vanilla. The taste is round, velvety and strong, with a long finish supported by silky tannins and a clearly noticeable freshness. Very elegant and soft with a long spicy finish. A PN with a good price-quality ratio and storage potential.

Ultimately, it's all about the content of the bottle, and Latour does an excellent job in this regard. Note! This is not the same Latour house you often find in stores. It can be confusing. Is there a family connection? Probably, but distant enough for this Latour to produce outstanding wines under the radar.

Unfortunately, Auxey-Duresses has fallen into oblivion. Only 130 hectares of vineyards are cultivated, similar to Pernand-Vergelesses, which is overshadowed by the big names in the region.

However, this does not take away from the excellent price-quality ratio of this red wine! Just like in AOC Monthélie, many wines disappeared under the label ‘Côte de Beaune-Villages’ until the turn of the century. White wines from Auxey-Duresses were even downgraded to ‘Bourgogne’. But the situation has greatly improved for the once ‘sturdy’ wines from AOC Auxey-Duresses, possibly thanks to climate change. The white wines are now aromatic, lively, sometimes slightly nutty, and have the necessary mineral notes. They may be a bit more restrained compared to Meursault, but in terms of price-quality ratio, they are almost unmatched.

The red wines from Auxey-Duresses are gradually starting to rival a fine Volnay. Storage time: 6 to 8 years

Henri Latour

Under the radar Burgundy. We have truly found gold with the Vieilles Vignes Auxey-Duresses from François and Sylvan Latour. This wine comes from 50 to 70-year-old vines from a village southwest and uphill from Volnay, namely: Auxey-Duresses. It is the smart Burgundy choice for all kinds of Pinot Noir lovers.