Domaine Agnès Paquet

Agnès Paquet, the signature of Auxey Créatrice - Few winemakers can boast of having founded their wine estate ex-nihilo. And even fewer are women. Agnès Paquet is one of those who hides a strong will behind their smiles. From the world of wine, she chose commerce. She did internships at a cooperage in Napa Valley and then at a wine cellar manufacturer. In 1995, at only 21 years old, she opposed the sale of the family vineyards. She waited 5 years to get them back. She started with zero equipment, zero buildings, and zero clientele. She renovated her grandparents' house and had her first winemaking experience at her cousin's place, just a stone's throw from her Auxey vineyards. Her ex-husband helped her develop a commercial network that now includes 15 agents in France. In 2009, she decided to stop selling in bulk. She doubled her bottle volume and, with investors, acquired prestigious appellations to harvest 13 hectares. "This job is full of different professions!" says the woman who loves all aspects of it. The "Patience" cuvée is her signature wine. A long aging in oak barrels gives her family vineyards in Auxey-Duresses a unique flavor under a haute-couture scent. Did you say creator? Cultivation Practices The vine cultivation is relatively traditional. Since 2004, the Estate has completely banned chemical herbicides and, over the years, favored treatments based on copper and sulfur. Following organic principles without being certified. Vinification & Aging The harvest is done by hand with two successive sorting processes (in the vineyard and on a sorting table). Use of indigenous yeasts, minimal inputs, use of SO2 only, and chaptalization when necessary. Alcoholic and malolactic fermentations for white wines take place in barrels during an aging period of 11 to 18 months depending on vintages and cuvées. Red wine vinifications are done in concrete tanks and last 15 to 20 days, with a percentage of whole bunches depending on the cuvées. The aging then takes place in barrels for 10 to 12 months depending on vintages and cuvées, with 15 to 30% new barrels. Critics' Reviews 2 stars B&D, 1 star RVF Main wines Auxey-Duresses