Joseph Drouhin - Clos des Mouches Blanc 2020
Price: $199.99
97 points - Jasper Morris, MW
| Producer | Joseph Drouhin |
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| Country | France |
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| Region | Burgundy |
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| Subregion | Beaune |
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| Varietal | Chardonnay |
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| Vintage | 2020 |
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| Sku | 31559 |
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Joseph Drouhin Description
"An outstanding wine. Pale yellow colour. Complex floral nose of white lilac and white rose. Once open, fruity aromas come to the fore, evolving towards grilled hazelnut and almond. When the wine is more mature, the nose is surprisingly strong and fifteen minutes of aeration produce wonderful notes of white truffle, citron (cedrat), honey and nutmeg, elegantly meshed together. Very lively on the palate. Its rich texture is in evidence, but also its structure and minerality. It is round, but never heavy. Harmonious fullness in the aftertaste. This wine allies remarkably the complexity and elegance of a Bâtard-Montrachet with the power of a Corton-Charlemagne." - Veronique Boss-Drouhin
Site: at the southern end of the Beaune appellation, next to Pommard. The Drouhin vineyard is at mid-slope, on a mild incline with an east/south east exposure. It is the largest parcel of the Clos des Mouches (14 hectares - 35 acres), one half planted with chardonnay, the other with pinot noir.
History & tradition: the name « mouches » means flies. There were once bee-hives in this sun-drenched « clos » (vineyard enclosure); the bees in the local dialect were called « mouches à miel » (honey flies), hence the name Clos des Mouches. It is one of the first vineyards acquired by Maurice Drouhin (the founder's son) in the 1920's. With great determination, he bought 41 different parcels from 8 proprietors. It is planted out in equal quantities of red and white grapes and both wines have achieved mythical status for the House of Joseph Drouhin.
Celebration of its 100 years of history at Maison Joseph Drouhin in 2021.
Soil: clay and limestone. Rocky soil in the upper part of the vineyard. At the center, the soil is limestone and marl. This light composition favours the great finesse of the wine.
Wine Advocate: 94 Points
The 2020 Beaune 1er Cru Clos des Mouches Blanc (Domaine) wafts from the glass with aromas of honeyed pears, freshly baked bread, buttery pastry, Meyer lemon and baking spices. Medium to full-bodied, ample and enveloping, its textural attack segues into a fleshy but vibrant core of fruit and a long, saline finish.
Burghound: 93 Points
Ripe aromas of apple and pear compote possess more prominent floral nuances along with hints of wood toast and just sliced fennel. There is very fine volume to the fleshy and plump flavors that also retain good precision thanks to a similar citrus-tinged acid spine on the sneaky long finish. This is a wine of contrasts as the mid-palate is rich to the point of opulence, yet the balance is impeccable. Note that this should drink well relatively early on.
