2017 Auxey Duresses 1er Cru
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Tasting notes
The 2017 Auxey-Duresses 1er Cru has a distinctly earthy, terra-cotta-tinged bouquet, the tiny bit of whole bunch more evident than I would have presupposed. The palate is well balanced with a fine bead of acidity, taut and fresh, leading to a lightly spiced, sapid finish. Very fine, but I would drink it over the next decade.
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Julia Harding MW, jancisrobinson.com
Neal Martin
More reviews and scores
Mid cherry red. Darker and a little richer than the village Auxey but in the same family. Some spice and damson on the palate, sweet and sour. Firm, lightly chewy. Plenty of flavour. (JH)
The 2017 Auxey-Duresses 1er Cru, a blend of two vineyards and, unlike 2015 and 2016, completely de-stemmed, has a deeper, slightly blacker nose than the Village Cru, certainly displaying more mineralité at this primordial stage. The well-defined palate is taut and linear, displaying impressive backbone considering the appellation in question. This is a great Auxey-Duresses, full of tension and vigor, offering lovely blackberry, black olive and saline notes toward the finish. Don’t overlook this gem from Comte Armand.
Aromas of wild berries, plums, dried flowers and a judicious framing of new wood introduce the 2017 Auxey-Duresses 1er Cru, a medium-bodied wine with a crunchy core of fruit, tangy acids and chewy tannins. When compared with the village Auxey, there's more depth here, and more structure too, and if it doesn't round out with further élevage, it will certainly require some time. As usual, the cuvée is a blend of Bretterins and Duresses.