Not wanting to bore you with a long list of Drouhins, I’ll make sure that the next bottle is from someone else, but here is a ‘domaine’ bottling that I often find rather subdued on release, but this shows quite some class – normally a blend of 5 different 1ers – Hauts-Doix, Borniques, Noirots, Plantes and Combottes.
1999 Joseph Drouhin, Chambolle-Musigny 1er Cru
Medium cherry-red colour. The nose is deep, just a little plummy at the base and higher-up has lovely red cherry fruit – it just misses a little higher perfume. A really lovely extra dimension of fruit flavour that becomes more intense in the mid-palate and is borne on excellent acidity, except that it has a slightly sharp edge. The tannin is an understated fine grain as you head into mineral finish. Tightens-up considerably in the glass after about 1 hour – it becomes only half the wine it was before, so pop, pour and drink, or leave in the cellar another 3-5 years. Not perfect, but very good.
Rebuy – Yes – I’m planning on buying a few more.
To finish today’s ‘Drouhin Bulletin’ 3 more things that may interest you:
- Drouhin have a shiny new website
- I have added their recent thoughts on the 2008 vintage to the last post about the harvest
- Finally some vineyard acquisition news from them, no info on who the vines were acquired from
Domaine Joseph Vineyard Acquisition
As another step towards developing its supply of quality grapes, Maison Joseph Drouhin has decided to purchase a vineyard of Pommard Chanlins.With their excellent position in the southern part of the appellation, these vines are a welcome addition to the Joseph Drouhin estate, already comprising 73 hectares (183 acres) in the best appellations of Chablis, Côte de Nuits, Côte de Beaune and Côte Chalonnaise.
At the end of last year, Joseph Drouhin had already acquired one hectare of Savigny-les-Beaune and Savigny-les-Beaune 1er Cru Aux Fourneaux.