2020 Domaine Balland-Curtet Auxey Duresses Les Ecusseau

2020 Domaine Balland-Curtet Auxey-Duresses Premier Cru “Les Ecusseau” is a refined white Burgundy that sits just south of Meursault, and it shows it in every sip. Crafted from old-vine Chardonnay planted in 1978, this cuvée combines Meursault-like generosity with the mineral precision of Auxey-Duresses. As one of the rare white Premier Crus in this small appellation, it offers serious Côte de Beaune pedigree at a still under-the-radar price point.

Tasting Notes
In the glass, Les Ecusseau shines a bright, fresh straw-yellow with glints of green, hinting at both ripeness and tension. The nose is elegant yet expressive, opening with citrus zest and ripe green and yellow apple, followed by notes of fresh almonds, white flowers and a subtle brioche and hazelnut nuance from its time in barrel. On the palate, the wine is medium to full-bodied but beautifully controlled and poised. A core of citrus and orchard fruit is framed by a fine, chalky minerality and precise, mouthwatering acidity. The oak is deftly integrated, adding gentle creaminess and pastry tones without ever overpowering the fruit. The finish is long, clean and saline, with lingering notes of lemon cream, toasted nuts and stone. Enjoyable now for its vibrancy and balance, it has the structure and acidity to evolve gracefully over the next 5–8 years, gaining further complexity and texture in bottle.

Production
Les Ecusseau comes from a south-east facing Premier Cru parcel situated around 200 metres above sea level, between the villages of Auxey-Duresses and Meursault. The soils are light, erosion-prone clay-limestone, rich in active limestone that confers tension and minerality to the Chardonnay. The vineyard, planted in 1978 and trained in simple Guyot, is strictly farmed with careful spring debudding and sustainable, low-intervention disease control in summer. To protect the fragile soils, ploughing is kept shallow. After meticulous monitoring of ripeness, the grapes are harvested by hand and brought directly to the cellar. The clusters are gently crushed so that the juice runs freely before a light pressing, then the must is settled. Using gravity rather than pumping, the clear juice is transferred into French oak barrels, where alcoholic fermentation takes place, followed by aging on fine lees in barriques (around 30% new each year). After approximately 10 months of maturation, the wine is blended, lightly filtered and bottled, then held for several additional months in the cellar to complete its élevage before release.

Food & Serving
This Auxey-Duresses Premier Cru is a natural match for refined seafood dishes. It shines alongside fruits de mer platters, steamed or grilled shellfish such as lobster, crab and mussels, as well as pan-fried or oven-roasted white fish, turbot, sole or halibut. It also pairs beautifully with seared scallops, poultry in cream sauce, vegetable risottos and semi-hard cheeses like Comté or aged Gruyère. Serve at 10–12°C (50–54°F) to highlight its freshness and minerality; slightly warmer (around 12°C) if you prefer more generosity and oak aromatics. Decanting is not essential, but a brief 20–30 minutes in a carafe or in the glass can help the wine fully open its bouquet, especially in its youth.

Producer
Domaine Balland-Curtet is the result of a long-standing friendship between two families united by their passion for Burgundy. Their joint venture was formally sealed in 1994 with the purchase of their first vineyard in Volnay, building on the Balland family’s existing holdings in Auxey-Duresses. Over time, the domaine has expanded its footprint in the Côte de Beaune and today crafts an impressive range of village and Premier Cru wines from Auxey-Duresses, Chassagne-Montrachet, Volnay and Puligny-Montrachet, including prestigious climats such as Auxey-Duresses Les Ecusseaux, Puligny-Montrachet Sous le Puits and La Garenne. This focused portfolio and their commitment to careful vineyard work and sensitive élevage have made Balland-Curtet a respected name in the region, particularly for delivering wines that capture top Côte de Beaune character with strong value and authenticity.

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