2023 Fabien Coche Auxey-Duresses Rouge, Burgundy

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.
Steps up, bacony juniper, blood orange. Sinewy, lean mineral palate. Good but edgy.

Fabien Coche Auxey-Duresses Rouge is a superb introduction to the world of red Burgundy from a grower who has quickly built a reputation as one of the Côte de Beaune’s rising stars. Fabien Coche took over his family’s domaine (formerly Coche-Bizouard) and has refined its style, producing wines of precision, energy, and terroir expression. Based in Meursault, Coche works organically and with meticulous attention to detail, focusing on minimal intervention in the cellar and farming that highlights purity of fruit.

Auxey-Duresses is a village tucked into a cool valley just west of Meursault and Volnay, and its reds are often under-the-radar gems. The soils are a mix of limestone and marl, giving Pinot Noir both freshness and minerality, while the slightly higher, cooler slopes bring a lifted aromatic profile. Coche’s Auxey-Duresses Rouge is sourced from old vines and crafted with a mix of whole-bunch and destemmed fruit, fermented with native yeasts, then aged in fine-grained French oak (with a restrained use of new barrels) to preserve elegance.

The wine shows bright ruby colour with expressive aromas of wild strawberry, red cherry, rose petals, and subtle spice. On the palate it is supple and finely structured, balancing juicy red fruits with savoury notes of undergrowth and mineral drive. The tannins are fine and chalky, and the acidity brings lift, making it both immediately enjoyable and capable of ageing for 6–8 years.

Food pairings reflect its elegance and freshness: duck breast with cherries, roast chicken with herbs, or a mushroom and lentil terrine. It also works beautifully with semi-hard cheeses like Comté or Gruyère.