Alain Gras : Auxey-Duresses Village "Les Crais" 2024

Characteristics and Tasting Notes for Alain Gras' Auxey-Duresses Village "Les Crais" 2024

Tasting Notes

Appearance
This white wine reveals a pale yellow hue, at once crystalline, bright and edged with light golden reflections.

Nose
The aromatic bouquet opens with delicate notes of white flowers and citrus fruits. It is then enriched with nuances of toasted brioche, walnuts and an elegant hint of oak.

Palate
The palate offers a beautiful balance between a rich texture and a pleasant freshness. Refined and highly elegant, it is carried by an omnipresent chalky minerality that stretches into a long, saline finish.

Food and Wine Pairings

Ideal for accompanying refined dishes, this wine pairs perfectly with poultry in cream sauce, baked or sauced fish, as well as shellfish. It also enhances white meats and a fine selection of soft or characterful cheeses.

Serving and Cellaring

To fully appreciate the Auxey-Duresses Village "Les Crais" 2024, it is recommended to serve it at a temperature of around 12°C. This wine can already be enjoyed now, but it will continue to develop and reach its peak between 2026 and 2032, with an ageing potential extending to around 2034.

The Elegance and Minerality of a Burgundy Wine by Alain Gras

The Estate

Founded in 1979 by Alain Gras, the eponymous estate is located in Saint-Romain, a picturesque village perched at altitude in the Burgundy region. Today, the property is run jointly by Alain Gras and his son Arthur, who carry on a long-standing family expertise. The vineyard covers approximately 15 hectares, spread across high-quality terroirs. Passionate advocates for their appellation, the owners are dedicated to producing wines renowned for their freshness, minerality and elegance, establishing the estate as a benchmark of the Côte de Beaune.

The Vineyard

The plot from which this wine originates is located within the Auxey-Duresses appellation. The vines, around forty years old, thrive on deep soils composed of clay, limestone and calcareous marl. Vineyard management follows a sustainable viticulture approach with integrated pest management. To ensure optimal quality and excellent grape concentration, green harvesting is practised, followed by exclusively manual harvesting.

Winemaking and Ageing

The making of the Auxey-Duresses Village "Les Crais" 2024 begins with automatic, regulated pressing to preserve the delicacy of the berries. Alcoholic and malolactic fermentations take place in oak barrels, with rigorous temperature control. The wine is then aged for twelve months in these same barrels, around 30% of which are new oak, in order to give the wine structure while respecting the identity of its terroir.

Grape Variety

100% Chardonnay.