Domaine d'Auvenay Auxey-Duresses "Les Clous" 2009

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Domaine d'Auvenay belongs to the charismatic Lalou Bize-Leroy, who also runs the equally famous Domaine Leroy in Meursault. Her Chardonnays are cited as the best in the world, and the prices match this success. The energetic Madame Bize-Leroy is a fervent supporter of biodynamic farming. She is the daughter of Henri Leroy, founder of the Maison de négoce Leroy, who acquired half of the DRC (Domaine de la Romanée Conti) in 1942. She took over Maison Leroy in the 1950s, which boasted a stock of old vintages like no other. In 1974, she succeeded her father and became co-manager of the DRC with her cousin Aubert de Villaine. She was forced to step down from this management in 1992 but still retains a 25% stake. While building the Leroy estate by purchasing beautiful plots of vines, she acquired a farm in Auxey-Duresses, which would become the Domaine d'Auvenay. This name then grouped the plots inherited from her father and purchased between 1989 and 1995.

Lalou Bize-Leroy is the sole owner of this small estate of barely 3 hectares 87 ares, which she built between 1989 and 1995. Primarily known for its white wines, this estate uses the same techniques as its cousin, the Leroy estate. Extreme care is taken in viticulture. The vines, not trimmed but braided, rise high in the Burgundy landscape, and anyone passing by one of the vines of this great lady of the vineyard cannot miss them. All work is carried out in accordance with the principle of biodynamics, homemade herbal teas are applied to the vines to promote their growth and the harvest, carried out early in the morning to protect the grapes from the summer heat, is conducted with the greatest care. The grapes are then sorted with great care. The extremely limited yields at the estate allow for ripe picking and early harvesting. The length, density and complexity of the wines are absolutely exceptional.