Comte Armand : Auxey-Duresses Village 2020

Characteristics and tasting advice for the 2020 Auxey-Duresses from Comte Armand

Tasting

Color
The color is deep and intense, characteristic of the 2020 vintage and its small, concentrated berries.

Nose
The nose reveals a rounded, complex aromatic profile, marked by notes of ripe red fruit, notably blackcurrant and cherry. Wild strawberry aromas mingle with mineral hints of crushed stone, while subtle smoky nuances complete the whole. A slight youthful reduction adds an extra dimension that fades with aeration.

Palate
On the palate, the wine is round and harmonious, shaped by fine, silky tannins that elegantly frame the flavors. The mid-palate shows lovely liveliness, while the finish lingers with character. Juicy red-fruit notes are balanced by bright acidity and a delicate mineral tension. The whole reveals deep flavors in an open, approachable style, with a beautifully built structure and a delicious expression.

Food and wine pairings
This wine pairs perfectly with grilled or roasted poultry, notably chicken or duck. It also goes elegantly with grilled salmon, mushroom dishes, or truffle pasta. Roasted root-vegetable preparations also make excellent pairings.

Serving and cellaring
The 2020 Auxey-Duresses can be enjoyed now while also offering promising aging potential over the medium term.

A refined, balanced Burgundian Auxey-Duresses from Domaine Comte Armand

The estate
Domaine Comte Armand is one of Burgundy’s most prestigious estates, with an unbroken family history dating back to 1828. Olivier Armand now oversees this roughly nine-hectare estate spread across Pommard, Volnay, Auxey-Duresses and Meursault. The property is particularly renowned for its monopoly of Clos des Épeneaux in Pommard, a five-hectare vineyard entirely enclosed by walls. A pioneer in sustainable viticulture, the estate adopted organic farming as early as 1985, receiving official certification in 2005, before incorporating biodynamic practices from 2009 onward. Under the direction of winemaker Paul Zinetti since 2014, the estate continues its commitment to refined wines that favor elegance and aromatic purity.

The vineyard
This Auxey-Duresses comes from the l'Argillas plot, located within this Côte de Beaune appellation. The Auxey-Duresses vineyard lies in a side valley, benefiting from a terroir of stony marl-limestone soils. The vines are planted on steep slopes at around 250 meters above sea level, with an overall east and southeast exposure. This geographical setting lends the wines a natural freshness and a fine mineral expression. The estate farms its plots according to organic and biodynamic principles, favoring mechanical soil work and the use of natural plant-based preparations.

The vintage
The year 2020 brought exceptionally early and favorable growing conditions in Burgundy. After a wet winter that replenished water reserves, the growing season unfolded in warm, sunny conditions with very little rainfall between May and September. This summer drought caused significant water stress, leading to the formation of very small berries with little juice. The growing cycle was advanced by around three weeks compared with 2019, resulting in harvest starting as early as August 24 at Domaine Comte Armand, one of the earliest dates ever recorded. Despite these challenging conditions, the vintage retained remarkable freshness and acidity, as temperatures did not reach the extreme heatwave levels of previous years. Yields came in at around 25 hectoliters per hectare.

Vinification and aging
The l'Argillas plot was harvested last among the estate’s red-wine parcels, allowing optimal phenolic ripeness to be reached. Vinification for the 2020 Auxey-Duresses favored gentle, controlled extraction, in line with the estate’s philosophy of producing wines with refined tannins rather than powerful expressions. Aging took place in oak barrels, allowing the wine to develop complexity while preserving the purity of the fruit and the expression of the terroir.

Grape variety
100% pinot noir