Auxey-Duresses Premier Cru

Auxey-Duresses Premier Cru wines are those produced under the strictest production conditions of the Auxey-Duresses communal appellation, in the Côte de Beaune sub-region of Burgundy.

The Montagne de Bourdon hillside where the commune's nine premier cru climats are located, enjoys an excellent south and south-east aspect, enabling the vineyards to make the most of the available sunlight and warmth in this marginal climate. This fact, along with the high percentage of limestone in the local soils, means that these vineyards are well placed to make wines of very high quality.

Wines made under the Auxey-Duresses Premier Cru title can be both red and white – made from Pinot Noir and Chardonnay respectively. Typical Auxey-Duresses wines are not out of keeping with those produced in nearby Meursault and Volnay, although many find them a little more restrained than these richer wines.

The climate around Auxey-Duresses is of continental type, with warm, dry summers and cool, extended winters. While spring arrives earlier here than in Burgundy's northern outposts like Chablis, the commune's viticulturalists must still contend with cold spring mornings and the risk of frost damage to their vines.

The 9 Auxey-Duresses Premier Cru vineyards are:

- Bas des Duresses
- Climat du Val
- Clos du Val
- La Chapelle
- Les Bréterins
- Les Duresses
- Les Ecussaux
- Les Grands Champs
- Reugne