Domaine des Croix

Why we follow Domaine des Croix

The estate

Beaune is the third-largest appellation on the Côte d'Or and has fewer than ten growers bottling their own wine. David Croix has made it his business to change how the place is regarded. He came from Montlouis in the Loire, trained under Benjamin Leroux at Comte Armand, and at twenty-four took charge of the négociant house Camille Giroud, running it from 2002 to 2016. Domaine des Croix was established in 2005 when a group of American investors bought the former Domaine Duchet and installed him to run it under his own name. The domaine is his own estate fruit; his other projects are separate ventures.

The vineyards

Just under eight hectares, with an average vine age around fifty years, farmed organically though without certification. The focus is squarely on Beaune premier cru: Les Grèves, Bressandes, Pertuisots, Cent Vignes and Les Teurons. Grand cru Corton and Corton-Charlemagne sit above them, and there is a hectare in Saint-Romain.

In the glass

Moderate whole-bunch inclusion on the reds, indigenous-yeast fermentation in open wooden tanks, then around sixteen months in older oak followed by a few months settling in tank. The two whites ferment in barrel with generally no new wood at all. The result is Beaune with body and texture, which is not what the appellation is usually given credit for. Neal Martin, writing for The Wine Advocate, described Croix as "a winemaker with that 'touch'."

With Lamont’s

Offered through the Private Cellar Selection, generally following the April release. Register your interest and we will contact you when the next allocation is confirmed.