Domaine Lafouge Auxey-Duresses 1er "Les Duresses" 2023

Domaine Lafouge Auxey-Duresses 1er Cru Les Duresses 2023

Les Duresses is Auxey’s heavy-hitter, and in 2023 it flexes muscle worthy of far grander postal codes. Fifty-five-year-old Pinot rooted in iron-rich limestone at 260 m delivers black cherry, damson and roasted spice over a dense but finely lined tannic frame. Valley breezes keep the finish taut, unlocking a premier cru clarity that nods toward Volnay’s pedigree. With 6.500 bottles drawn, it stands as one of Lafouge’s most commanding Auxey reds.

Producer: Domaine Lafouge
Vintage: 2023
Designation: Auxey-Duresses 1er Cru Les Duresses
Parcels / Lieu-dit: Les Duresses
Variety: Pinot Noir
Average Vine Age: 55 years
Soils & Exposure: Iron-rich soils, turning paler lower down; 260 m altitude, south-east aspect
Fermentation: Hand-harvested; about 95 % destemmed; cold soak 5-10 days; indigenous yeasts in open vats with gentle punch-downs and pump-overs
Élevage: 12 months in 228 L barrels (25 % new), then a few months in tank; no fining; light lees filtration only
Alcohol: 12%
Total Production: 6.500

The Domaine
Domaine Lafouge has quietly stewarded Auxey-Duresses vineyards since 1650, yet under sixth-generation vigneron Maxime Lafouge the cellar now punches far above its weight. Farming lutte raisonnée and harvesting entirely by hand, the family crafts whites and reds that rival better-known Meursault addresses while remaining refreshingly modest in price. Rarité is proud to serve as the estate’s Danish partner, offering allocations that vanish quickly among in-the-know Burgundy collectors.