Les Ecusseaux

Les Ecusseaux occupies a site on the Montagne du Bourdon slope in Auxey-Duresses, one of Burgundy's more understated Côte de Beaune communes. The vineyard sits at approximately 200 meters elevation and faces southeast, providing good sun exposure across the growing season. The classification boundary is precise: the northernmost strip of the vineyard holds Premier Cru status, established formally in 1937, while the section lower on the slope carries only the village Auxey-Duresses AOC designation. The climat is positioned between the roads leading to Beaune and Meursault, placing it geographically at the heart of the commune.

• Premier Cru status granted 1937 under Auxey-Duresses appellation
• Located between the Beaune and Meursault roads within the commune
• Only the upper, northernmost parcel qualifies as Premier Cru
• One of nine Premier Cru climats recognized in Auxey-Duresses

The soils at Les Ecusseaux are clay-limestone in composition, with a notable limestone richness that is characteristic of the better-drained upper portions of the Auxey-Duresses hillsides. This combination of clay and limestone delivers both the moisture retention and structural mineral backbone that shapes the wines. The site experiences a continental climate typical of the Côte de Beaune, with warm summers and cold winters, and the southeast aspect ensures the vines receive morning sun, promoting gradual and even ripening. The elevation at 200 meters keeps temperatures slightly cooler than the valley floor, preserving acidity in both red and white varieties.

• Clay-limestone soils with high limestone content in the upper parcels
• Continental climate with warm summers and cold winters
• Southeast aspect captures morning sun for even ripening
• 200-meter elevation preserves natural acidity in the fruit

Les Ecusseaux produces both red and white wines, reflecting the dual-variety tradition of Auxey-Duresses. The Pinot Noir delivers firm structure alongside aromas of dark cherry and raspberry, a profile that rewards short-to-medium cellaring. The Chardonnay tends toward medium-to-full body with citrus and apple notes, showing a mineral edge that comes directly from the limestone-rich soils. While Auxey-Duresses as a commune is better known for red wine, the whites from quality producers at Les Ecusseaux offer genuine complexity at prices well below neighboring Meursault Premier Crus.

• Pinot Noir: firm structure, dark cherry and raspberry aromas
• Chardonnay: medium-to-full body, citrus and apple with mineral notes
• Both varieties benefit from the limestone influence in the soil
• Whites offer strong value relative to nearby Meursault Premier Crus

Several respected domaines hold parcels in Les Ecusseaux. Domaine Jean & Gilles Lafouge is among the most prominent names associated with the climat, alongside the historic négociant-domaine Robert Ampeau. Domaine Jessiaume Père & Fils, Domaine Henri & Gilles Buisson, Domaine Fabien Coche, and Domaine Balland-Curtet round out the roster of producers working within the appellation. These estates represent a cross-section of Auxey-Duresses producers who bottle under the Premier Cru designation, and their wines provide reliable entry points into this lesser-known but high-quality corner of the Côte de Beaune.

• Domaine Jean & Gilles Lafouge: a leading name in Auxey-Duresses
• Robert Ampeau: historic producer with long-established holdings
• Domaine Henri & Gilles Buisson: respected family domaine in the commune
• Domaine Fabien Coche and Domaine Balland-Curtet also produce from this climat