Auxey-Duresses, Domaine Taupenot-Merme, 2020

Romain at Domaine Taupenot-Merme crafts this elegant Auxey-Duresses from vineyards perched on the hillsides between Meursault and Volnay. The 2020 vintage delivers classic Burgundian charm: bright red fruit wrapped in earthy minerality, with the silky tannins that make Pinot Noir from this corner of the Côte de Beaune so appealing. Romain began harvesting on the 26th August almost 3 weeks earlier than in 2019 (16th September), but still 95 days from flowering. The entire year simply started earlier and enjoyed more sunshine. The brief frost didn’t affect any of his crop, however hydric stress was Romain’s main concern. Not a drop between 1st July and harvest ultimately had an affect on yields (which are incidentally down on 2021!). “If only we had had even one shower”, he anguished on what might have been his greatest vintage. That being said, he was most surprised, and pleasantly so, at the high acidity still maintained from such a warm vintage, which have undoubtedly elevated all his wines from village level up. The tight, firm tannins are impeccably fine and polished and hardly noticeable.