Discover the Auxey-Duresses appellation
and its cuvée from Hospices de Beaune

The style of Auxey-Duresses wines

The Auxey-Duresses appellation produces predominantly red wines (Pinot Noir grapes), distinguished by their finesse and freshness, characteristic of the higher slopes to the west of the Côte de Beaune. This later terroir favors progressive ripening, giving rise to Pinot Noirs that are precise, well-balanced and beautifully aromatic. The wines thus combine delicious fruit and elegant structure, in a typically Burgundian style.

The color is generally bright ruby, sometimes slightly deep depending on vintage and climate. The nose opens with aromas of fresh red fruits such as cherry, raspberry and redcurrant, often accompanied by floral notes reminiscent of violets. With aeration, more complex nuances of undergrowth, sweet spices and even a hint of smoke or liquorice emerge.

On the palate, Auxey-Duresses reds - including, of course, the premier cru Les Duresses Boillot, auctioned each year at the Hospices de Beaune Wine Auction - offer a lively, precise attack. The fine, elegant tannic structure supports a supple body without heaviness, with a lovely natural freshness. Bottle ageing brings out deeper notes of ripe fruit, dried leaves and mushrooms, while the texture gains in silkiness.

In their youth, these wines seduce with their crisp character and immediate aromatic expression. After a few years' cellaring, they develop greater complexity, while retaining their balance and delicacy. Together, these harmonious, accessible wines can age gracefully for 5 to 10 years, depending on the vintage.

Buy an Auxey-Duresses wine at the Hospices de Beaune auction with Albert Bichot

In this promising appellation, only one cuvée is on sale at the Hospices auction: Auxey-Duresses 1er Cru Cuvée Boillot. We offer two purchase options, from one bottle to a full barrel. You'll also find our older vintages immediately available in our online store. Optional label personalization with your name

Auxey-Duresses terroir

At the heart of the Auxey-Duresses appellation, Les Duresses is one of the most famous climats for red wines. So it's no surprise that it has been added to the original name of the village of Auxey to form the full Auxey-Duresses toponym!

Situated on well-exposed, mid-slope hillsides, Auxey benefits from favorable sunshine, while retaining a certain coolness due to its altitude and the influence of the valley. This position enables the Pinot Noir grapes to mature gradually, favoring a balance between concentration and elegance. The soils are mainly composed of calcareous marl mixed with stony scree. This structure ensures both good drainage and moderate water supply, ideal conditions for limiting vine vigor and concentrating berries.

As a key player in the Hospices de Beaune sales, Albert Bichot is delighted to purchase the Cuvée Boillot at auction, and to age it in their Beaune cellars with the care it deserves.

Auxey-Duresses climats from Hospices de Beaune estate

• Auxey-Duresses 1er Cru Cuvée Boillot: Les Duresses

Auxey-Duresses appellation map

Etymology & history

The name Auxey-Duresses comes from the association of two distinct toponyms, corresponding to the village of Auxey and the climate of Duresses. "Auxey" appears in ancient texts in forms such as Alciacum, Aussiacum or Auxeyum. This root is generally linked to a Gallo-Roman domain name formed from a Latin anthroponym, probably Alcius or Altisius, followed by the suffix -acum, designating a person's rural property. Phonetic evolution over the centuries gradually led to the current form "Auxey".

The term "Duresses", for its part, derives from an old Burgundian or Franco-Provençal word derived from dur or dure, evoking a stony or difficult-to-work terrain. This interpretation corresponds well to the nature of the soils in the Duresses climate, composed of calcareous marl and stony scree. The addition of "Duresses" to the village name, formalized in the XXᵉ century, served to distinguish the commune and highlight this renowned terroir. Auxey-Duresses thus reflects both the village's ancient origins and the geological identity of its wine-growing hillsides.

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Key facts about Auxey-Duresses appellation