Xavier Durand calls it his best keeping wine. Made from grapes grown on the Corton hill, this Pinot Noir displays animal and robust qualities that reflect the marly clay and thick heavy soil of the lieu-dit.

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  Colin Talcroft

  Less forthcoming at first than the 2011 Les Chaillots from the same producer, but with similar earthy scents and something evocative of wet clay or paper, but also with spice (nutmeg), meaty scents, and later cherries. Bright acidity and the slightly rustic tannins of youth balance intense, concentrated fruit on the palate. The tannins makes the fruit seem a trifle distant, but, with a little air contact, richer, sweeter flavors develop, suggestive of a more opulent, expansive future. Will need time, but likely to be well worth the wait.

  Food pairing: Coq au Vin, venison, duck or other game birds, rabbit

Xavier Durand calls it his best keeping wine. Made from grapes grown on the Corton hill, this Pinot Noir displays animal and robust qualities that reflect the marly clay and thick heavy soil of the lieu-dit.

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  Cheryl Bringuez

  Recommendation: open this bottle about 30 minutes before consuming. The nose was subdued at first, but developed as the bottle was open longer. Dusty cherry, fresh-cut flowers and a bit of mushroom come out on the nose and the mid-palate has great tart cherry that lasts through to the finish.

  Food pairing: Truffle parmesan french fries

Grown like Boutières on the Corton hill, but on redder soils that elicit more substance and finer tannins from the Pinot Noir grapes, Les Chaillots is the more feminine and subtle of Domaine Durand’s two Aloxe-Cortons.

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  Deborah Adeyanju

  Talc, floral scents, and mushroom aromas shape the nose. Offers red fruit flavors—both tart and ripe—with light spice notes on a delicate frame. Medium body. Likely to be more approachable in 2016–2017.

  Food pairing: Heavier (red) meats

Grown like Boutières on the Corton hill, but on redder soils that elicit more substance and finer tannins from the Pinot Noir grapes, Les Chaillots is the more feminine and subtle of Domaine Durand’s two Aloxe-Cortons.

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  Cheryl Bringuez

  This is a bottle that is mature for its age: rich, brooding and outgoing. Nice spice, black cherry and raspberry on the nose. Well balanced mid-palate with plenty of structure on the mouthfeel.

  Food pairing: Bacon