2008 AUXEY DURESSES 1er Cru Domaine Comte Armand

28 acres and the vines are 20 to 80 years old vines. This is a blend of one third Les Duresses and two thirds Les Bretérins. The latter has a due south exposure and is on a steep slope of white marl. There is 1.1 hectares of both. Leroux blends before fermentation. He tried treating them separately and found that Les Duresses really didn’t work. This was racked and lightly sulphured two weeks ago. Intensely juicy, succulent and purely fruited. On the palate it is assertive but nimble, with a nice layered density. Fresh acidity and lovely floral and red berry fruit on the finish. Very good+. From 2013.   16.5

Really quite deep and rich and satisfying. Full spread across the palate. Muscular. Long and reverberant. Exciting for this appellation. A little autumnal. This may still take on flesh and become yet more impressive. Very artisanal. 2011-2017   16.5+

Compared to the village cru, this is actually quite restrained and I think, better defined as a consequence. Very pure. The palate is medium-bodied, firm tannins, dark fruits infused with a biscuit element, tannic towards the finish that is just a little too dry for my liking. 2012-2017.   87-89/100

Medium red. Cherry, leather and menthol aromas. A step up in intensity and length from the village offering, with more mineral thrust and some slightly tart acidity carrying through to the finish. (The 2008 malos finished in September and the wines were racked about three weeks prior to my visit, except for the basic Auxey-Duresses villages, which was leathery and lean in November, and lacked real ripeness despite its very low production level.)   85-87/100