2017 Joseph Drouhin Beaune 'Clos des Mouches' Rouge 1er Cru Cote De Beaune

Winemaker Notes: An exceptional wine. Beautiful, deep-red ruby colour, with the bright sheen of great Burgundies. Intense and fresh nose for the young wines. Primary notes of red fruit dominate, such as Morello cherry (“griotte”, or wild cherry), raspberry, blackberry. There are hints of complexity with smoky flavors evolving towards liquorice. When the wine is maturing, aromas of pepper, tobacco, humus and undergrowth appear. When drinking the wine, the first impression is always clear-cut and the texture fleshy. The body is firm without being rough, well meshed without being heavy. There is great freshness in the younger wines. With age, the wine gets rounder. It takes on “gras” (velvety texture) and a more precise architecture, supported by silky tannins. It is lively and refined at the same time. There remains a final and most pleasing sensation of harmony, fullness and delicate tannins, as the wine lingers on the palate.

The 2016 crop was low in quantity but its quality provides a nice surprise. The mature grapes gave deep ruby-colored wines displaying notes of black fruit mingled with hints of violet and spices. The palate is round and generous. The wines are typical of their terroir.

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 equally in red and white grapes and both wines have achieved mythical status for the House of Joseph Drouhin.

The site is 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 half pinot noir. Clay and limestone soils. Rocky soil in the upper part of the vineyard. At the center, the soil is limestone and marl. This light composition is responsible for the great finesse of the wine. Domaine area: 6.75 ha. (16.875 acres). Average age of the vines: 39 years

CRITICAL ACCLAIM


Decanter - "Is Clos des Mouches better suited to red or white grapes? The answer is both in a vintage like 2017. This was picked in five stages to maximize balance and complexity and made with 25% stems and 30% new wood. It's not a blockbuster wine, preferring to charm rather than overwhelm the palate with elegance, refined tannins and spicy, wild strawberry and red cherry flavours. Drinking Window 2023 - 2029."


James Suckling - "Lots of grilled meat, smoke and ripe fruit. Rich and decadent. Medium to full body, round and juicy tannins and a flavorful finish. Layered and juicy for the Clos des Mouches. Better after 2022."


Robert Parker's Wine Advocate - " The 2017 Beaune 1er Cru Clos des Mouches is showing beautifully from bottle, wafting from the glass with an inviting bouquet of ripe red berries, orange rind, warm spices and subtle hints of coniferous forest floor. On the palate, the wine is medium to full-bodied, velvety and beautifully harmonious, with the same suave structuring tannins that I identified from barrel, succulent acids and a long, fragrant finish. This is a Clos des Mouches that positively caresses the palate, and it will offer a broad drinking window."


Burghound - "A discreet application of wood sets off the ripe and very fresh aromas of plum, various red berries and a pretty floral element. The opulent and highly seductive medium weight flavors are shaped by firm but not rigid tannins on the balanced finish. This should age gracefully and yet be approachable after only 5ish years."