1985 Domaine d'Auvenay Bourgogne Rouge

Domaine d’Auvenay is the private domaine of one of Burgundy’s most extraordinary winemakers, the legendary Lalou Bize-Leroy. Wine reviewers including Robert M. Parker Jr. and Jancis Robinson rave about her wines, which are among the finest in Burgundy. Bize-Leroy’s family has been in the wine business in Burgundy since 1868, and in 1964 she took over her father’s negociant business. The family also owned one-half of Domaine de la Romanee-Conti for much of the 20th century. Bize-Leroy now owns a quarter of DRC and runs the acclaimed Domaine Leroy and the family’s negociant business. Domaine d’Auvenay is located in Meursault and includes 12 acres of Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Aligote. The average age of the vines is 65 years. Production is very limited, between 2,000 and 6,000 bottles annually. Because they are made by Madame Lalou, they are some of the most collectible wines in the world.

Burgundy in eastern France is, if not the most famous and storied wine region in the world, certainly one of the top two or three. Its winemaking history dates from the Roman era, and its relatively small size and reputation for outstanding wines means that the best wines of Burgundy are generally among the world’s most prized – and costly – wines. At about 110,000 vineyards acres, Burgundy is only 40% as big as Bordeaux, and its system of dividing up vineyards into small, family-owned parcels makes understanding the wines of Burgundy a life-long pursuit for Burgundy enthusiasts. The three main grapes of Burgundy are Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Gamay. Burgundy is a long, narrow, north-south running region consisting of five main areas. They are Chablis in the north, Côte D’Or, Côte Chalonnaise, Mâconnais and Beaujolais, which is just above the Rhone Valley. Pinot Noir and Chardonnay are grown throughout most of Burgundy but Gamay is grown primarily in Beaujolais. The appellation system and rules about labeling can be confusing and the system classifies regions, villages and even individual vineyards. Grand Cru is the most prestigious appellation category, followed by Premier Cru and many village and regional appellations.

This red wine is relatively light and can pair with a wide variety of foods. The grape prefers cooler climates and the wine is most often associated with Burgundy, Champagne and the U.S. west coast. Regional differences make it nearly as fickle as it is flexible.