Domaine Lafouge Auxey Duresses 1er cru Climat du Val – 2018

This richly flavoured red Burgundy comes from an excellent 1er cru vineyard in Auxey Duresses, a small appellation which lies in the next valley west from Volnay in Burgundy’s Cote de Beaune region. Auxey Duresses is traditionally a little cooler than the Cote de Beaune but in the warm 2018 vintage this was very favourable for the wines, giving them a little extra vitality and freshness.

This has impressive multi-layered fruit flavours – red and black cherries, violets and spices – together with lovely depth and density and silky smooth tannins. Very good value.

“The 2018 Auxey-Duresses 1er Cru Climat du Val is showing well, wafting from the glass with attractive aromas of raspberries, plums and cassis, deftly framed by a subtle application of oak. Medium to full-bodied, supple and elegantly fleshy, it’s built around melting tannins and lively acids, concluding with a nicely defined finish.” 91/100pts Wine Advocate