Domaine des Croix

History of the domaine des Croix

The history of the domaine des Croix is above all the story of one man: David Croix. Originally from Montlouis-sur-Loire, he knew from the age of 16 that he wanted to make wine. After a vocational degree in viticulture and oenology in Tours, he obtained a Master's degree in oenology from Dijon in 2001, then honed his winemaking skills alongside Benjamin Leroux at the domaine du Comte Armand in Pommard.

It was while working as a winemaker at the Beaune house Camille Giroud that he revolutionised the house's style, reducing the ageing periods to obtain finer wines with more melted tannins. His reputation then began to extend well beyond the borders of Burgundy.

In 2004, a group of Americans travelling in the region came to taste the wines of the Camille Giroud house. Won over by the man, his wines and his vision, and learning that a domaine in Beaune, the Domaine Duchet, was for sale, they proposed to David Croix that he purchase this domaine and place it under his direction. He accepted, thereby touching his dream. 

Officially founded in 2005, the domaine has grown progressively and David Croix was named Best Rising Talent 2008 by the prestigious publication Bourgogne Aujourd'hui. Since then, his reputation has continued to grow among the most discerning enthusiasts and critics, from Allen Meadows to the Revue du Vin de France.

Terroirs and Vines of the domaine des Croix

The domaine des Croix has a vineyard of 7.8 hectares planted primarily with Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, with an average vine age of close to 50 years. This ancient plant heritage gives the wines an unparalleled depth and aromatic complexity.

The appellations cover the Côte de Beaune, from Corton-Charlemagne in the north to Saint-Romain in the south. The domaine expresses itself across terroirs of great diversity: fragmented limestone on Les Grèves and Les Bressandes, outcropping limestone bedrock on Les Pertuisots, clay and marl soils on the Beaune village parcels. This mosaic of terroirs — clay-limestone, deep marls or outcropping rock — gives rise to cuvées of distinct character, revealing the full richness of the Burgundian Climats.

Since 2008, no pesticides have been used in the vineyards, and soil management is conducted thoughtfully according to the vintage and the vigour of each vine. The team also carries out trials with cover crops and has been closely interested in biodynamics since 2019. This approach, respectful of soil life, guarantees an authentic and living expression of each terroir.

Vinifications of the domaine des Croix

David Croix's winemaking philosophy rests on a fundamental principle: letting the terroir and the vintage speak for themselves, without ever constraining or masking them. He works without dogma, with vinifications that often involve partial whole-cluster fermentation depending on the vintage, fermentation with indigenous yeasts, and measured use of sulphur, in order to let the full aromatic finesse characteristic of Burgundy express itself. 

Punch-downs and pump-overs are carried out based on daily tasting of the vats, pressing is gentle, and ageing takes place over a minimum of 12 months with a maximum of 5% new barrels for the village wines. Bottling is done at the domaine without fining or filtration. For the Premiers and Grands Crus, ageing can involve up to 40% new barrels, always without fining or filtration. 

One of the domaine's technical signatures is the intensive practice of pigeage, this ancient technique consisting of pushing the cap of grape skins back down into the fermenting must. With Pinot Noir, it allows the wine to be "filled out", hence the remarkable silky texture found throughout all the cuvées. The result? Wines of exceptional fruit purity, with melted and silky tannins, accessible from their youth yet endowed with a fine ageing potential.

The cuvées of the domaine des Croix

The domaine des Croix offers a complete range covering every level of the Burgundian hierarchy, from generic Bourgogne to the Grands Crus of the prestigious Corton hill.

Bourgogne Pinot Noir: The ideal entry point for discovering the domaine's style. Supple, fruity, accessible from its earliest years, this red Bourgogne sincerely expresses the finesse of the Burgundian Pinot Noir crafted by David Croix. A wine for immediate pleasure, with crunchy fruit and delicately melted tannins.

Beaune Rouge: A blend from several parcels in the Beaune village appellation, this wine combines freshness and elegance. The clay and marl soils of the Beaune parcels yield a generous wine with an ample and fleshy palate, a faithful reflection of the Beaune terroir.

Saint-Romain Combe Bazin: A cuvée from the domaine's most recently planted vines, situated in the south of the Côte de Beaune, this white wine expresses all the minerality and freshness characteristic of the Saint-Romain appellation.

Aloxe-Corton Les Boutières: Sourced from a 0.6-hectare parcel of 60-year-old vines, this wine presents a very spicy nose with a powdery touch on the finish, a true hallmark of this particular climat. A wine of character, dense and structured, that requires a few years of patience.

Savigny-lès-Beaune 1er Cru Les Peuillets: One of the domaine's Premiers Crus, sourced from parcels worked using organic methods on the characteristic soils of Savigny. This wine stands out for its deep colour, violet hues, and concentrated matter with a fine ageing potential.

Beaune 1er Cru Les Tuvilains: The domaine's most recent acquisition, this parcel offers a wine with delicate red fruit aromas and a precise palate, reflecting the finesse of the Premiers Crus of Beaune.

Beaune 1er Cru Les Cent Vignes: A terroir that is earlier in the harvest hierarchy, this generous wine presents a very fine palate that gains in breadth as it opens up. Sourced from four old-vine parcels, it combines structure and accessibility with great tannic finesse.

Beaune 1er Cru Les Pertuisots: A parcel on outcropping limestone bedrock, giving rise to a wine of great minerality, taut and precise. A Premier Cru with fine ageing potential and a well-tempered character.

Beaune 1er Cru Les Bressandes: One of the domaine's flagship cuvées. The Pinot Noirs from this Premier Cru stay true to their Beaune terroir and win over with their accessibility and suppleness, never lacking in depth or relief. A complete wine, combining freshness, aromatic depth and sumptuous texture.

Beaune 1er Cru Les Grèves: Sourced from fragmented limestone soils, this wine presents an ample and dense palate with well-mastered concentration, and an inviting balance between soft matter and fine acidity. The rich tannins launch a precise and powerful finish. A great fine wine of Beaune, worthy of the prestige of this celebrated Premier Cru.

Beaune 1er Cru Le Bas des Teurons: A cuvée of great elegance, this wine combines a fine and velvety texture with a long mineral finish. Already expressive from a young age thanks to its well-integrated tannic structure, it nonetheless possesses a fine capacity for ageing.

Corton Les Grèves Grand Cru: The first of the domaine's two Grands Crus on the Corton hill, this wine expresses all the power and depth one is entitled to expect from a Burgundian Grand Cru. It displays a pleasant acidity and freshness for a red wine, without compromising its structure or its capacity to age.

Corton La Vigne au Saint Grand Cru: The jewel in the crown. This Corton exhales beautiful aromas of red fruits, notably black cherry, smoky and spiced notes enhanced by discreet oaky touches. The palate reveals great complexity, with menthol and floral aromas (violet), a beautiful texture, both supple and powerful. An exceptional wine for ageing, full-bodied, ripe and rich, presenting an extremely harmonious balance between acidity and maturity. 

Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru: The domaine's only white Grand Cru, sourced from Chardonnay on the Corton hill. This white wine of great distinction combines minerality, aromatic complexity and remarkable longevity, worthy of the greatest white Grands Crus of Burgundy.