Joseph Drouhin Cotes de Beaune declassified 1er Cru Single Bottle

Country: France Region: Burgundy

Varietal: Pinot Noir  Vintage: 2014  

Colour: Red  Style: Medium-bodied

Producer: Maison Joseph Drouhin 

Description:

This bottling includes a significant amount of Beaune 1er cru declassified to the simpler appellation. The honey bee, or ‘mouche’ on the label provides a clue to the provenance of much of the fruit. The Drouhin team want to keep this wine fresh and easy, uncomplicated but with a lovely class of fruit.
Jasper Morris MW – Wine Buyer

Vineyard
Site: on the hill overlooking the city of Beaune. This appellation should not be confused with Côte de Beaune-Villages (a blend of various villages from the Côte de Beaune).
History & tradition: this is a particular wine since it comes from the vines of the Joseph Drouhin estate (total vineyard area around 3 hectares - 7.5 acres) as well as from the younger vines of Clos des Mouches and other Premier Crus of Beaune that have been declassified (a Beaune wine can be declassified into Côte de Beaune).


Viticulture
Biological cultivation since 1990; biodynamic cultivation a few years later.
Vine stocks: "sélection massale" (propagation of new vine stocks from a number of selected vines) done at the Drouhin nursery; also clones of recognized quality.
Soil maintenance: compost of manure and white wood, sometimes guano (seabird manure used as fertilizer). Soil is ploughed either by tractor or by horse to manage spreading of weeds.


Vinification
Harvesting: by hand, in small open crates in order to preserve the integrity of the fruit.
Sorting of the grapes: in the vineyard and at the cuverie (winery) if necessary.

Maceration:
maceration and vinification take 2 to 3 weeks
indigenous yeasts
maceration and fermentation temperatures under total control
Joseph Drouhin seeks total control of the process of extraction; extraction gives colour and substance to a wine but should never be detrimental to its finesse and typical character.

Ageing
Type: in barrels (10% in new oak).
Length: 12 to 15 months.
Origin of the wood: French oak forests.
Weathering of the wood: Joseph Drouhin insists on total control of the process of extraction; extraction gives colour and substance to a wine but should never be detrimental to its finesse and typical character.
"Pigeage" (punching down of the cap during fermentation): once a day until half of fermentation is done; one pumping over ("remontage") per day till the end of the fermentation.


Tasting note by Véronique Boss-Drouhin
"A true delight and a great harmony! A beautiful purple colour. On the nose, delicate and fruity aromas such as strawberry and red currant. On the palate, the tannins are refined and lend a nice roundness to the body. Elegant aftertaste".