Comte Armand : Auxey-Duresses 1er cru 2021

Characteristics and tasting advice for the Auxey-Duresses 1er Cru 2021 from Comte Armand

Tasting

Color

The color reveals a ruby-red hue with garnet highlights, edged with purplish tints at the rim of the glass, reflecting the wine’s youth and the fine ripeness achieved in the 2021 vintage.

Nose

The nose opens with aromas of tart cherry and fresh raspberry, hallmarks of Burgundian Pinot Noir. These red-fruit notes are joined by subtle hints of sweet spices, white pepper, and delicate herbal nuances. With aeration, the bouquet reveals floral notes of violet and rose, along with earthy, forest-floor aromas that reflect the minerality of the Auxey-Duresses terroir.

Palate

The attack is smooth and velvety, with silky tannins and an elegant structure. The mid-palate shows fine concentration, with flavors of sour cherry and redcurrant, complemented by darker-fruit notes such as blackberry and plum. Oak integration remains subtle, bringing delicate vanilla and toasted touches without overpowering the fruit. Nuances of fine spices, cinnamon, and clove enrich the aromatic palette. The finish stands out for its length and persistence, with tangy freshness and savory notes that bring balance and refinement.

Food and wine pairings

This wine pairs harmoniously with roasted poultry, duck, or feathered game such as pheasant and quail. It also goes beautifully with moderately intense red meats such as beef tenderloin, braised beef, or pork chops. Mushroom-based dishes, especially with morels or truffles, make particularly successful pairings. Aged cheeses such as Comté or Saint-Marcellin round out this selection perfectly.

Serving and cellaring

It is recommended to serve the Auxey-Duresses 1er Cru 2021 between 15 and 17°C. This wine can be enjoyed now for its freshness and fruit, but it also has cellaring potential of at least ten years, and may evolve favorably through around 2036 and beyond under optimal storage conditions.

An elegant, refined Burgundy Premier Cru from Domaine Comte Armand

The estate

The Domaine Comte Armand is a historic Burgundy estate whose origins date back to 1828, when the Armand family acquired the prestigious Clos des Épeneaux in Pommard through marriage. Established in the heart of the Côte de Beaune, the estate now spans nine hectares across Pommard, Volnay, and Auxey-Duresses. A pioneer of biodynamic viticulture in Burgundy as early as 1992, the estate is currently led by owner Olivier Armand and estate manager Paul Zinetti, who has held the role since 2014. Internationally recognized for the exceptional quality of its wines, Domaine Comte Armand embodies Burgundian excellence through cuvées that combine family tradition with environmentally respectful vineyard practices.

The vineyard

The Auxey-Duresses 1er Cru comes from the “Les Grands Champs” and “Les Famines” parcels, located on south- and southeast-facing slopes at relatively high altitude. The vineyard covers around one hectare planted with vines between thirty and eighty years old. The soils are clay-limestone enriched with iron oxides, with a significant presence of active limestone that can reach thirty percent of the total mass. This composition gives the wine its characteristic minerality and its ability to age. The estate practices fully biodynamic viticulture, excluding all herbicides and favoring plowing, sometimes done by horse to preserve soil structure. Yields are deliberately kept low to promote grape concentration.

The vintage

The 2021 vintage in Burgundy proved particularly challenging. A frost episode in April affected many vineyards, followed by hail in June in certain areas. Despite these spring difficulties, flowering took place under good conditions. June and July were marked by significant rainfall, before the weather stabilized from mid-August onward with generous sunshine. Harvest took place in September under favorable conditions, yielding grapes of excellent quality despite reduced volumes. This vintage produced wines of remarkable concentration, combining elegance and finesse.

Winemaking and aging

The grapes for the Auxey-Duresses 1er Cru 2021 were hand-harvested and fully destemmed. After a rigorous sorting, whole berries were placed in tank for a cold pre-fermentation maceration lasting five to eight days, at a temperature maintained between 13 and 14°C. Alcoholic fermentation proceeded spontaneously with indigenous yeasts for five to ten days, followed by a post-fermentation maceration of three to fifteen days. Total maceration lasted around four weeks. Aging took place in oak barrels for eighteen months, with 20 to 25% new oak. The wine was neither fined nor filtered before bottling, preserving its authenticity and complexity.

Grape variety

100% Pinot Noir