Corton C. : Auxey-Duresses 1er cru "Le Val" 2017

Characteristics and tasting advice for the Auxey-Duresses 1er Cru "Le Val" 2017 from Corton C

Tasting

Appearance

The wine displays a brilliant ruby-red color, combining brightness with moderate intensity.

Nose

The nose reveals a complex bouquet, moving between raspberry and redcurrant aromas and evolving toward notes of blackberry and blackcurrant. Delicate floral touches of peony enhance the aromatic ensemble.

Palate

On the palate, this wine charms with its harmony and well-balanced proportions. The even tannic structure and supple, perfectly integrated tannins support a luscious, fruit-forward expression. The palate reveals a lovely roundness while retaining definition and complexity, with generous development through the mid-palate.

Food and wine pairings

This wine pairs perfectly with a pork tenderloin served with lentils, carrot-braised beef, or a roast poultry dish. It also complements charcuterie and red-meat preparations with elegance.

Serving and cellaring

It is recommended to serve the Auxey-Duresses 1er Cru "Le Val" 2017 at a temperature between 15 and 16°C to allow optimal expression of aromas and tannic structure.

A premier cru from the Côte de Beaune combining roundness and structure

The estate

Château Corton C is a seven-hectare Burgundy estate located in Aloxe-Corton, acquired in 2015 by the Frey family. Owned by Jean-Jacques Frey and managed until 2025 by his daughter Caroline Frey, a renowned oenologist, the estate has stood out for its transition to certified biodynamic viticulture in 2021. The château, a listed historic monument since 1917 with its iconic glazed-tile roof, is home to thirteen different appellations ranging from grands crus to village appellations. Since July 2025, Delphine Frey has overseen the estate, maintaining the environmental and quality commitments established. The estate’s philosophy favors quality over quantity, with deliberately limited production and parcel-by-parcel vinifications in a modern winery equipped with concrete vats.

The vineyard

The Auxey-Duresses is an appellation of the Côte de Beaune nestled between Volnay and Meursault, covering around 150 hectares. The Climat du Val enjoys a particularly favorable due-south exposure, on soils composed of marl and limestone that provide excellent drainage. This rolling, undulating terroir gives the wines a characteristic minerality and fine aromatic definition. The moderate altitude and optimal orientation of the climat allow for balanced ripening of the pinot noir grapes.

The vintage

The 2017 vintage in Côte de Beaune was marked by favorable growing conditions, with adequate rainfall during the growing season and sufficient sunshine to allow full ripening. The warm, sunny summer, with relatively little rain, was followed by a mild September that helped refine ripeness ahead of harvest in sunny weather. These conditions produced Burgundy wines of fine quality, with moderate concentration and well-balanced acidity.

Vinification and aging

The Auxey-Duresses 1er Cru "Le Val" 2017 is vinified according to the principles of biodynamic viticulture adopted by the château. Harvesting is carried out by hand, with rigorous grape selection. Vinification is carried out on a parcel-by-parcel basis in specially designed concrete vats, allowing precise temperature control and individualized management of each climat. This low-intervention approach aims to preserve authenticity and the expression of the terroir.

Grape variety

100% pinot noir