Bouchard Père & Fils : Beaune 1er cru "Les Avaux" Domaine 2018

Characteristics and tasting advice for the Beaune 1er Cru "Les Avaux" Domaine 2018 from Bouchard Père & Fils

Tasting

Color

The color shows a medium purple hue with brown and mauve highlights, reflecting the grapes’ maturity and the wine’s structure.

Nose

The bouquet reveals aromas of luscious red fruit with spicy nuances. Notes of sour cherry and blackberry mingle with subtle floral hints and a touch of undergrowth. With aeration, a rustic, gamey dimension emerges, underpinned by an iodine-like austerity layered over red-fruit and rose aromas. Notes of vanilla and sweet spices, including cinnamon and white pepper, complete this complex aromatic profile.

Palate

On the palate, the wine is dense and supple, with structuring tannins that remain refined and silky. The velvety texture envelops the palate without ever turning harsh. The attack is intense and generous, unveiling fine tannic substance. The natural acidity, well balanced, contributes to the sensation of roundness and generosity. The finish lingers at length, offering a complex succession of flavors and textures that evolve gracefully, with floral and mineral notes accompanying the gradual fade of the tannins.

Food and wine pairings

This Beaune 1er Cru is an ideal match for roasted poultry or poultry in a cream sauce, notably Bresse chicken and duck with cherries. It pairs beautifully with a warm Mont d'Or with porcini mushrooms, and with aged cheeses such as Comté, Brie de Meaux, or Saint-Nectaire. Red meats in sauce, such as boeuf bourguignon or coq au vin, make for classic pairings. Game, notably roasted pheasant or hare stew, also offers a particularly noble match. A mushroom or porcini risotto will find a harmonious companion in this wine.

Serving and cellaring

For optimal tasting of the Beaune 1er Cru "Les Avaux" Domaine 2018, serve at a temperature between 16 and 18°C. Decanting for around twenty minutes beforehand can be beneficial if the wine is still young. This wine is best enjoyed from 2025 and will retain its peak until around 2032.

A powerful and elegant Beaune Premier Cru from Burgundy

The estate

Founded in 1731 by Michel Bouchard in Beaune, the House of Bouchard Père & Fils is one of Burgundy’s leading wine institutions. Owned by Artémis Domaines (François Pinault) since 2022, it now farms 98.7 hectares across 77 climats, three quarters of which are classified as Premiers and Grands Crus. In 2025, the entire vineyard gains organic certification, while a historic restructuring divides the estate: 35 hectares of the most prestigious terroirs are transferred to the new Domaine des Cabottes, while Bouchard Père & Fils retains 65 hectares and permanently abandons its négociant activities to focus exclusively on its own properties.

The vineyard

The climat Les Avaux, whose name comes from the lieu-dit "Vaux" referring to a dip in the slope, is located at the bottom of the hillside at low altitude, between 230 and 240 meters. Bouchard Père & Fils owns 4.36 hectares of this terroir, representing one third of its total surface area. The deep limestone and clay soils rest on a marly clay-limestone subsoil. The parcel benefits from a dual exposure, split between a south-facing and a north-facing slope, creating a configuration that moderates temperature extremes. These well-browned clay soils give this Beaune wine power and a generously structured profile, combined with excellent aging potential. The estate practices sustainable viticulture, and the harvest is carried out by hand into small crates.

The vintage

The 2018 vintage in Burgundy unfolded under the sign of exceptional weather conditions. The year began with a very wet winter, allowing the vine to replenish its water reserves. A mild spring favored perfect flowering. Summer 2018 was marked by a particularly hot and dry period, without any destructive incidents. These conditions enabled optimal ripeness, with a harmonious balance between sugar concentration, acid retention, and the development of aromatic polyphenols. The harvest, from late August to late September, took place under excellent sanitary conditions.

Vinification and aging

Alcoholic fermentation of the Beaune 1er Cru "Les Avaux" Domaine 2018 takes place in small vessels, promoting precise temperature control and gentle extraction of tannic components. Pressing is carried out delicately, ensuring a vinification that preserves the natural elegance of pinot noir. The maceration lasts between fifteen and twenty days, allowing for gradual tannin extraction. Punching down is performed gently to encourage slow, delicate maceration. Aging takes place over twelve to fourteen months in French oak barrels, with 30 to 50% new oak, ensuring the oak does not overpower the terroir’s delicate characteristics.

Grape variety

Pinot noir