Exclusively represented in Denmark by Rarité
Domaine Lafouge
Auxey-Duresses · Bourgogne
Domaine Lafouge is deeply rooted in Auxey-Duresses and today ranks among the appellation's clear reference producers. The best whites have an energy and depth that place them closer to great Meursault than to the traditional perception of Auxey.
Behind the domaine
Gilles og Maxime Lafouge
The Lafouge family has been established in Auxey-Duresses since 1650. Today Gilles and his son Maxime work side by side. Over the decades Gilles has built one of the most consistent domaines in the village, and Maxime has brought further precision, energy and ambition to the work.
Maxime is a childhood friend of Pierre-Vincent Girardin and Théo Dancer and belongs to a generation that reads the classic appellations with great technical assurance and a more transparent expression. At Lafouge this is felt above all in the whites: the fruit has become clearer, the oak more integrated and the acidity more precisely drawn.
What is remarkable is that this development has not cost the domaine its identity. The wines still have Auxey's substance and immediate charm. They have simply become even purer and more detailed. Rarité represents Domaine Lafouge in Denmark and regards the domaine as one of the most important producers in the portfolio.
Vineyards and cellar
Auxey, Meursault and Pommard
The domaine works with an extensive range in Auxey-Duresses: village whites from Les Boutonniers and Les Hautés, and red premier crus from Climat du Val, La Chapelle, Les Duresses and Les Ecusseaux. The family owns around 92 per cent of La Chapelle, which makes the vineyard a true signature for the house.
Les Boutonniers covers around 0.8 hectares with Chardonnay vines of roughly 70 years. The vineyard lies in the part of Auxey that borders Meursault, and the natural connection can be tasted in the wine's density and salinity. In Meursault, Lafouge holds Les Meix Chavaux with 95-year-old vines and the monopole Clos de Rougeot with 50-year-old vines. In Pommard they work with Les Noizons and the premier cru Les Grands Epenots, among others.
Harvesting is manual, and the vineyard work is carried out with respect for the soil and without chasing high yields. The wines ferment spontaneously and are raised in barrel with an increasingly precise use of new wood. The whites show citrus, chalk, texture and marked length; the reds are juicy and fine-grained, with far more finesse than Auxey has historically been credited with.
The wines
Bourgogne Aligoté Régionale
Aligoté · hand-harvested · vinified with the same care as the domaine's larger whites
A clear, saline Aligoté with lemon, green apple and a fine bitterness. It is pure, energetic and highly versatile at the table. Its precision and length place it among the most serious Aligoté wines in this part of the Côte de Beaune.
Bourgogne Côte d’Or Chardonnay Régionale
Chardonnay from the Côte d’Or · spontaneous fermentation and barrel élevage
A bright Chardonnay with citrus, white peach and discreet oak. It has Lafouge's characteristic combination of texture and freshness and serves as a precise introduction to the house's white style.
Auxey-Duresses, Les Boutonniers Village · Hvid
Approx. 0.8 ha · Chardonnay vines of around 70 years · close to the Meursault border
Les Boutonniers is one of the domaine's great signatures. The old vines give dense fruit and deep texture, while the position towards Meursault contributes salinity and chalk. The wine shows ripe citrus, white flowers and a long, stony finish. It regularly performs at the level of far more expensive white Burgundies.
Auxey-Duresses, Les Hautés Village · Hvid
Single lieu-dit in the part of Auxey that lies close to Meursault Les Vireuils
Les Hautés is brighter and more taut than Boutonniers. Citrus, white flowers and chalk stand sharply defined, and the finish is long and saline. The springy acidity and great purity make the wine extremely lively at the table.
Auxey-Duresses 1er Cru, Les Duresses dit La Parapelle Premier Cru · Hvid
Rare white interpretation from the premier cru Les Duresses
A rare white premier cru with more breadth and weight. Ripe citrus, nut and stone are drawn together by firm acidity. It has Auxey's substance and Lafouge's precision, and develops very beautifully with a few years in the cellar.
Meursault, Les Meix Chavaux Village · Hvid
Chardonnay vines of 80–90 years · lieu-dit in the northern part of Meursault
Meix Chavaux is classic Meursault with ripe citrus, white fruit, nut and a dense, creamy texture. The very old vines provide depth, while a cool, saline finish keeps the wine taut. A great village Meursault with impressive length.
Meursault, Clos de Rougeot Monopole Village · Hvid
The family's monopole · very small production
Clos de Rougeot is one of the wines that lifts the entire domaine. It is dense, deep and extremely long, with ripe citrus, chalk, smoke and fruit that keeps on opening. This is a Meursault of real stature and a wine that already deserves reference status for Lafouge.
Bourgogne Côte d’Or Pinot Noir Régionale · Rød
Pinot Noir from the Côte d’Or · used barrels
A juicy Pinot Noir with red berries, spice and fine tannins. The fruit is pure and open, and the wine has more length than the category usually delivers. A very strong regional Burgundy.
Coteaux Bourguignons Régionale · Rød
Regional red · made for early drinking
The most immediate red in the range. Bright fruit, juiciness and light spice make an extremely drinkable wine with a clean, precise structure. Lafouge's craftsmanship is evident from the very first glass.
Auxey-Duresses Village · Rød
Pinot Noir from several village parcels in Auxey-Duresses
Classic Auxey with red cherries, earth, herbs and a firm, dry tannin. Lafouge gives the wine more finesse and purity than the appellation's old reputation suggests. It is both charming young and worth cellaring.
Auxey-Duresses 1er Cru, Climat du Val Premier Cru · Rød
Premier cru in Auxey-Duresses
Climat du Val is the most perfumed and open of the domaine's red premier crus. Juicy red berries, flowers and a fine chalky length make a wine of great elegance. It shows the light, precise side of Auxey.
Auxey-Duresses 1er Cru, La Chapelle Premier Cru · Rød
The family owns approx. 92 per cent of the vineyard · the domaine's most important red Auxey parcel
La Chapelle is Lafouge's great red signature. Darker fruit, more depth and a firm, spicy structure make a wine of authority and length. It retains Auxey's juiciness, but the level is clearly premier cru — and in good vintages higher still.
Auxey-Duresses 1er Cru, Les Duresses Premier Cru · Rød
Premier cru on the pronounced slope towards Monthélie
Les Duresses is the firmest and most mineral wine in the range. Dark berries, stone and dense tannin demand time, but the wine has great balance and a very long finish. A classic cellar wine from Auxey.
Auxey-Duresses 1er Cru, Les Ecusseaux Premier Cru · Rød
Premier cru in Auxey-Duresses
Les Ecusseaux is more aromatic and supple than Les Duresses. Red berries, spice and a fine-grained tannin give early charm, while the depth ensures development. A very complete premier cru.
Pommard, Les Noizons Village · Rød
High-lying lieu-dit above Pommard
The elevated position gives Les Noizons a freshness that suits Pommard's dark fruit. Cherry, stone and spice come together in a firm but not heavy structure. A precise and very elegant Pommard village.
Pommard 1er Cru, Les Grands Epenots Premier Cru · Rød
Premier cru in the northern part of Pommard, in the Epenots sector towards Beaune
Les Grands Epenots is one of Lafouge's greatest red wines. The fruit is dark and deep, the tannin dense and fine-grained, and the vineyard's natural power is carried by unusual precision. The wine has Pommard's authority, aromatic finesse and a length that makes it an obvious cellar wine.
Current vintages, formats and quantities are listed in the price list. The smallest cuvées are distributed by allocation.