Domaine Fabien Coche Auxey-Duresses Rouge 2022

Variety: Pinot Noir
Country Region: France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune
Appellation: Auxey Duresses

From the lieu-dit of Les Clous which has more limestone soil giving a fresher finer aspect to the aromas and the structure. This vineyard is full south facing and situated between the village Auxey and its neighbouring hamlet of Petit Auxey to the west with the vines averaging 30 years old. Just 20% new oak used here and bottled in December this wine is made with just 10% of whole bunches in the ferment. Fine fresh dark red berry aromas. Real finesse here with very fine and more substantial tannins from the limestone finishing with lingering perfume. Bright crunchy and very moreish. A great value that will also age for the medium term with a touch more tannin from the very chalky site.

Fourth-generation vigneron Fabien Coche took over his family’s domaine in 2005. Hailing from one of Burgundy's most famed families (Coche-Dury was part of the same domaine until 1940 and is run by his cousin Raphael), Fabien has quickly become the Coche of the current generation making the most waves. His enviable vineyard holdings total nearly 11 hectares spread across Meursault, Monthelie, Pommard and Auxey-Duresses.

Fabien Coche’s father is a first cousin of Jean-Francois Coche-Dury and it is not so long ago that the two domaines shared almost identical labels. Fabien started working with his father in 1998 and since 2005 has taken over the running and now has his own his own distinctive labels.

Organic farming practices here since 1998 for the 40 plots of vines that the family owns and now with 20 vintages experience. Average vine age is impressive here with more than 60% of vines over 60 years old.

Stylistically the wines at this estate are incredibly pure with little (if any) discernable mark from the hand of the winemaker with new oak at a low 25% and a notable percentage of larger format barrels. I would place the style of his wines in-between that of his cousins Coche-Dury and Roulot. Fabiens wines have the acidity and purity of Roulot without the trademark SO2 which tends to mark Roulots wines when young, and also without the extravagant luxuriant texture that so defines the wines of Coche-Dury. Here we simply find real old vine depth delivering some of the purest expressions of each vineyard site that we have seen right the way through the range from Aligote right to the very top.