Christopher Piper Wines' hugely rewarding relationship with the Durand family domaine spans almost 30 years and 3 generations. Now in the hands of the dynamic and energetic Xavier Durand, who took over from father Rene in 2011, the estate has gone from strength to strength over the years and Xavier's undeniable talent has propelled it into the region's premier league.
Yields have been dramatically reduced and the emphasis is now on terroir with all lieux-dits now clearly stated on the labels. These are wines of great precision and freshness, with a wonderful purity.
Xavier’s reds from the Côte de Nuits surpass many Nuits St. Georges and are phenomenal value. The top-end Aloxe-Corton, les Boutières is from 40 year-old vines, planted just about a frog’s jump below the village’s Premier Cru vineyards. The Grand Cru Corton le Rognet is widely regarded as being one of the finest from this vineyard whilst the humble Ladoix, Côte de Beaune reveals the care and attention that Xavier puts in to all his wines.
Xavier began planting Chardonnay vines about 15 years’ ago with the intention of only producing very small quantities from each parcel across three appellations: Ladoix (la Rangie), Côtes de Nuits Villages (Comblanchien) and Bourgogne Blanc (le Poirier au Loup on the Aloxe-Corton border. All three wines have an unparalleled clarity of fruit along with a clear imprint of terroir.
