Red Wine Domaine Charles Audoin Gevrey Chambertin 2020. No need to decant but best to open it half an hour before service. Founded in 1972 by Charles Audoin and his winemaker wife Marie-Francoise, Domaine Charles Audoin has been managed by their son Cyril since 2000. Starting with 3 hectares of vineyards, the company now owns 14 hectares that cover some of the best plots of Marsannay. The company’s philosophy is focused on the production of wines that are a pure expression of the varietal and their terroir. The resulting wines show very high quality, great freshness, and delicious fruitiness. They are ready to drink in their youth but also have the ability to age gracefully for many years.
2020
Red Wine Domaine Charles Audoin Gevrey Chambertin 2020
Red Wine Domaine Charles Audoin Marsannay Clos du Roy Rouge 2020. Known by Burgundy insiders for its exceptional value reds, Marsannay is mostly populated by boutique family-run domaines like this one which has been owned by the Audoins for five generations. Charles Audoin transformed the property’s fortunes in the 1970s when he started to bottle the family’s wines rather than sell them on to local merchants. He also expanded the property from 2.5 hectares to 14 hectares of vines in most of the appellation’s top crus. Clos du Roy is a prized plot for Pinot Noir thanks to its well-draining sandy and clay soils which typically produce elegant and refined reds like this bottling. All of the family’s vineyards are farmed organically without certification and they do not fine or filter their wines before bottling to avoid losing any of the natural character of the fruit. Raspberries, plums and wild berries immediately leap out of the glass followed by hints of woodsmoke, tobacco leaf and spice from the oak ageing. The first sip reveals a refined structure with elegant tannins, a silky smooth texture and rich fruit on the extended finish. Although drinking very well now, this is a great wine to cellar for a few more years if desired to add even more beauty and character to the complex flavour profile.
2020
Red Wine Domaine Charles Audoin Marsannay Les Favieres 2020. The Audoin family have been making wine in Marsannay for five generations, but the modern domaine was created by the visionary Charles Audoin in the 1970s who took the bold decision to start bottling and selling wines under the family name. Charles also expanded the family’s holdings from 2.5 hectares to 14 hectares before handing the domaine over to his young son Cyril. Today the property is regarded as a Marsannay reference point” by Wine Advocate and offers incredible value for money compared with the appellation’s pricier neighbours. Amongst the family’s top plots is the Les Favieres plot which is widely expected to be given Premier Cru status in the near future. As with all the family’s vineyards, the grapes are farmed organically and the wines bottled without fining or filtration. Their Les Favieres is consistently ranked as one of the domaine’s best reds thanks to the terroir which favours well-structured wines which can age for very long periods. Intense berries and plums dominate on the nose, underscored by deeper notes of forest floor, woodsmoke and spice from the oak ageing. On the palate there are multiple layers of rich fruit along with firm tannins and a long finish seasoned with tobacco leaf and earthy notes. Keep in the cellar for a bit longer or enjoy now alongside rich duck dishes or hearty stews.
2020