Auxey-Duresses “Moulin aux Moines” Monopole 2020

The vineyard is located in the valley between Meursault and Auxey-Duresses.  

In the past, it divided its activities between grain mills and

Grape presses. The AOC for this origin has existed since 1937.

As the name suggests, the site is bordered by a stone wall and delimited to the south by the Cloux stream.

The subsoil is rich in clay and limestone.

The Chardonnay vines are located on the edge of the monopollage adjacent to the Meursault parcels. This area covers 0.8 hectares and the vines were planted in 2003. The yield is estimated at 25-30 hl/ha.

After selective manual harvesting, the must undergoes direct oxidation. Fermentation takes place in 400 litre barrels. 10% of the barrels are new. The wine matures in the barrel for twelve months without battonage or racking.

Bright golden yellow with light green reflections

The Monopol site from 2020 delivers an intensely fragrant nose. It combines warm stone fruit with a hint of shortcrust pastry and yeast pastry. Mirabelle plum, apricot and peach provide plenty of yellow fruit. Some grilled pineapple underpins this even more clearly. Freshly baked shortcrust pastry and some cream slices with tinned mirabelle plums seem cheesy, but go perfectly with it. Yeast and vanilla have a restrained but present rendezvous. Nettle, lemon balm and sorrel also provide a good dose of freshness. Fennel, coriander seed and aniseed have an ethereal, complementary effect in the background.

And it follows on seamlessly from all these impressions. With a fine melting texture and a hint of creaminess, it initially gives the fruit time and space to develop. Yellow through and through, as you might have guessed beforehand. It then changes to a cooler impression and is strongly supported by the pleasantly present and moderate acidity. It shows edge and is supported by a fine bitter note. The linear minerality, characterised by chalk, provides plenty of elegance and seems to end suddenly. It seems to be on the verge of breaking off and this bitter note is followed by an ethereal freshness with enormous depth.