Auxey-Duresses “Moulin aux Moines” Vieilles Vignes Monopole rouge 2019

Wine description for Auxey-Duresses “Moulin aux Moines” Vieilles Vignes Monopole rouge 2019 by Clos du Moulin aux Moines

For nearly a thousand years, the walls of this clos have looked down upon their vines: in 962, monks from the Abbey of Cluny established an estate here that today ranks among the oldest wine estates in Burgundy. Since 2008, Willy Roulendes has been running the domaine in Auxey-Duresses – unhurriedly, artisanally, with the result that Pinot Noir is produced here exactly as one would wish: serious, without pomp, full of depth. A Burgundy for those who can read what is in the glass.

Colour & appearance

Slightly transparent yet intense ruby red – glossy, clear, inviting.

Nose

Dark-toned and multi-layered: undergrowth, forest floor, mushrooms and damp leaf litter, along with a hint of fermented cardamom and tobacco. Beneath, slightly yeasty notes, wild berries and dried cherries. A bouquet that leads one into the forest rather than to the fruit aisle.

Palate

Juicy, firm and serious, with a faintly sweet core of fruit around which dark, earthy and stony notes revolve. Plenty of structure, tannins offering fine resistance, accompanied by crisp acidity. And that subtle goût de campagne reminiscent of Pommard – that rural, slightly wild note that suits this wine remarkably well.

Finish

Taut and persistent, the earth and dark berries remain present long after. A wine with backbone that continues to tell its story well beyond the last sip.

Terroir & origin

Auxey-Duresses lies at the heart of a valley on the border with Meursault. The vieilles vignes grow in the upper, steeper and drier part of the walled clos on distinctive calcareous marl, at 300 metres’ altitude – planted in the 1950s. A mere 0.90 hectares, a monopole of the domaine.

Grape variety & vinification

Pure Pinot Noir, hand-harvested at yields of 38 to 44 hl/ha. Spontaneously fermented, with around ten per cent whole bunches, aged in Burgundian pièces and tonneaux – entirely without new wood, so that fruit and floral clarity take centre stage.

Food recommendations

The earthy depth calls for game dishes, such as saddle of venison with lingonberries, braised duck, mushroom stew or a ripe Époisses.

Special features

A wine from a monopole vineyard site with centuries of history that has nevertheless remained something of a hidden gem: Burgundian elegance without affectation, depth without heaviness. The old vines and the deliberate avoidance of new oak give it its unmistakable, honest signature.