2020 Joseph Drouhin
Beaune Clos de Mouches Blanc 1er
96 JS / 94-97 JM / 93-94 WA
"This is a wine of contrasts as the mid-palate is rich to the point of opulence, yet the balance is impeccable." - Allen Meadows, Burghound
$189.89/bottle - Buy Now
Arrives this week
Drouhin’s Clos des Mouches Blanc is a rarity in Beaune, where 86% of the appellation is red vines. Following is the story of a happy accident that lead to its creation:
"Just after the end of World War I, Maurice took over from his father (Joseph) what was a négociant firm at the time. In 1921, he started buying parcels in the Clos des Mouches, recognized as a top vineyard even before the official classification system came into effect. At that time, the vineyard was planted almost exclusively with Pinot Noir, the grape for which Beaune was best known. Maurice’s early task was to replant the vineyards following the devastation of WWI and phylloxera. He followed the tradition of the time by including a small percentage of white grapes—chiefly Chardonnay and Pinot Beurot (aka Pinot Gris). These whites would be harvested together with the reds and co-fermented to provide extra sugar to boost the final alcohol without adding significant flavor. Then, in 1928, by a quirk of nature—an act of God—the Chardonnay ripened too late to be co-fermented with the Pinot Noir. Maurice, always a parsimonious farmer, decided to make two barrels of white “house” wine. When he tasted it, eureka, he realized he had something unique and excellent, so, starting in the 1930s, he replanted the entire vineyard equally with Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, a planting pattern that has remained to this day." - Drouhin’s Clos de Mouches Blanc: Created by An Act of God, Michael Apstein, Apstein on Wine
2020 Joseph Drouhin Beaune Clos de Mouches Blanc 1er Cru
$189.89 (750ML) -Arrives this week - Buy Now
96 JS / 94-97 JM / 93-94 WA
So much ripe mirabelle with nuances of honeycomb, candied citrus, vanilla bean, licorice and more. Stunning concentration with everything balanced on a pinhead. The underlying structure is enormous, but beautifully integrated in the rich and full body. Bright and pure finish that extends a really long way out. From biodynamically grown grapes. Drink or hold.—James Suckling
Pale lemon colour. The power is immediately apparent on the nose, but in a good way. A wine for longer elevage before bottling and then worth the wait in bottle thereafter. This has all the expected volume of white fruit while retaining impeccable balance. Adds depth with time in the glass, before reaching quite a saline finish. A very youthful but impressive Clos des Mouches. I recently enjoyed a stunning bottle of the 2017, and this could very well match it in due course. Tasted: November 2021 .—Jasper Morris, Inside Burgundy
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.—William Kelly, The Wine Advocate
Also available:
2017 Joseph Drouhin Beaune Clos de Mouches Blanc 1er Cru
$169.89 (750ML) (In Stock) - Buy Now
95 JM / 93+ WA / 93 DE
A fullish clear yellow. The nose is exquisite and approachable but it seems to have become even richer since bottling, while holding its balance without any difficulty. Clos des Mouches always offers a dense texture, on this occasion with a lemon curd note, balanced by a thread of lime to keep it all fresh. Really beautiful! Tasted: Burgundy—Jasper Morris, Inside Burgundy
