History and winemaking
The origins of Domaine Coche-Dury date back to the interwar period in Meursault, when much of the production was sold in bulk to négociants. Beginning in 1964, Georges Coche expanded the estate and pivoted toward estate bottling, an approach pursued and broadened by his son Jean-François. The marriage of Jean-François to Odile Dury in 1975 established the name Coche-Dury, initiating decades of thoughtful parcel acquisitions across Meursault and Volnay.
Raphaël Coche-Dury joined the family estate in 1997, working alongside his father before taking sole charge of vineyard management, vinification, and estate leadership. Today, the family oversees around 10.5 hectares of productive vines, with the core of its vineyard holdings rooted in the commune of Meursault.
Grand Cru vineyards
Aloxe Corton Corton Charlemagne
Domaine Coche-Dury exploits 0.88 hectares in the Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru, specifically located within the lieu-dit Le Charlemagne in Aloxe-Corton following a métayage taken in 1985 and an expansion in 2012. The parcel sits on steep 20 to 23% slopes between 280 and 330 metres elevation on clay-rich marly soils overlying alternating Jurassic limestone and marl beds.
Premier Cru vineyards
Meursault Genevrières
The domaine cultivates and bottles approximately 0.21 hectares of Chardonnay in the Premier Cru climat Genevrières. Located on Meursault's premier cru hillside, the climat features clay-limestone soils over a variable subsoil of rocky scree, limestone slabs, or white limestone.
Meursault Les Caillerets
The estate farms 0.18 hectares in Meursault Premier Cru Les Caillerets, positioned high on the slope close to the Volnay commune boundary. Facing south to south-east, the vines grow in shallow, highly draining limestone soils resting on fractured limestone slabs locally referred to as laves.
Meursault Perrières
Domaine Coche-Dury exploits two parcels totaling 0.60 hectares in the upper portion of Meursault Premier Cru Perrières, planted in 1950, 1970, and 2005. Positioned on east to south-east facing slopes, the parcel features thin, stony clay-limestone soils over Bathonian oolitic limestone and Jurassic marls.
Meursault Les Casse-Tête
Les Casse-Têtes is a Meursault village lieu-dit situated near Les Tessons at roughly 300 metres elevation, characterized by shallow, stony clay-limestone soils over hard limestone bedrock with outcropping rocky heads. The domaine previously farmed a parcel here under métayage between 1979 and 1986, but the agreement ceased and the cuvée is no longer produced.
Pommard Les Vaumuriens
Les Vaumuriens is an elevated Pommard village sector situated above Les Rugiens toward Volnay, influenced by the cool airflow of the combe. Domaine Coche-Dury formerly owned 0.34 hectares here before selling the plot in 2012 to finance its vineyard expansion in Corton-Charlemagne.
Village appellations and other parcels
Meursault Les Rougeots
The domaine owns and farms 0.70 hectares in the Meursault village lieu-dit Les Rougeots, with vines planted in 1940, 1962, and 1973. Distinguished by its reddish clay-limestone soil, this site is vinified and bottled as an individual parcel-designated wine.
Puligny Montrachet Les Enseignères
Domaine Coche-Dury farms 0.80 hectares of Chardonnay in the Puligny-Montrachet village lieu-dit Les Enseignères. The parcel lies directly below the Grands Crus Bâtard-Montrachet and Bienvenues-Bâtard-Montrachet on clay-limestone soils.
Choosing a vintage and bottle
Given the estate's limited production and international demand, bottles from Domaine Coche-Dury are exceptionally scarce and require careful verification of provenance. Buyers seeking past bottlings should note that cuvées such as Pommard Les Vaumuriens and Meursault Les Casse-Têtes have been discontinued and are only found on the mature secondary market.
Frequently asked questions
Who manages Domaine Coche-Dury today?
Raphaël Coche-Dury directs the estate alone, overseeing both vineyard operations and vinifications across its approximately 10.5 hectares of production.
Which Grand Cru climat does Domaine Coche-Dury exploit?
The domaine exploits 0.88 hectares in the Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru, situated in the lieu-dit Le Charlemagne on the hill of Corton in Aloxe-Corton.
Why are Meursault Les Casse-Têtes and Pommard Les Vaumuriens no longer made?
The métayage contract for Les Casse-Têtes ended after the 1986 vintage, while the 0.34-hectare holding in Pommard Les Vaumuriens was sold in 2012 to fund the expansion of the Corton-Charlemagne holding.
