Viniou Reviews
Domaine Roulot’s 2018 Auxey-Duresses Blanc is a prime example of the finesse bestowed by Burgundy on Chardonnay. The 2018 vintage reflects a warm, generous year, delivering fruit ripeness balanced by the estate’s signature precision. The grapes are sourced from Auxey-Duresses, a neighbouring appellation to the more celebrated Meursault, yet revealing its own distinctive mineral edge. The soils here, rich in limestone and clay, impart a flinty undertone and tension to the wine. Vinification at Domaine Roulot always favours gentle pressing, natural fermentations and careful élevage in oak—usually with a modest proportion of new barrels—eliciting aromas and flavours true to the terroir, marked by citrus, ripe green apple, crushed stones and delicate white flowers.
The Côte de Beaune, the beating heart of white Burgundy, benefits from a continental climate with warm summers and cold winters, encouraging excellent acid retention and gradual ripening. Its ancient soils, calcareous and well-drained, enable Chardonnay to express a range of nuances, from pronounced minerality to orchard fruit depth. While not as internationally famed as neighbouring villages, Auxey-Duresses boasts a history of winemaking stretching back the Middle Ages and offers outstanding value and authenticity.
Pairing this wine is a delightful exercise: its vibrant acidity and mineral grip are the perfect foil for classic Burgundian dishes such as gougères (cheese puffs), escargots with garlic butter, or a creamy poulet à la moutarde. More widely, consider baked white fish with a lemon beurre blanc, seared scallops, or a simple roasted chicken with tarragon. Its subtle oaky notes would also flatter a Comté or mild brie.
For the best experience, serve Domaine Roulot Auxey-Duresses Blanc 2018 slightly chilled, between 10-12°C. Decanting for half an hour can help the wine open up. Enjoy over the next 5–8 years for optimum freshness and complexity.
