Why it matters
The producer
Joseph Drouhin arrived in Beaune from Chablis at age 22 in 1880 and founded the Maison as a négociant. The business now includes 93 hectares of vineyards, with bottles carrying regional Bourgogne names and more specific Beaune names. Joseph's great-grandchildren still own and operate the company. They also operate Domaine Drouhin Oregon in the Willamette Valley. The range combines broad Bourgogne appellation labels with named Beaune wines.
Maurice Drouhin helped create the Institut National des Appellations d'Origine in 1935. The body later established France's appellation control system. His work helped give legal form to the place names used on Burgundy labels, including the distinction between a regional Bourgogne wine and a named Beaune wine.
Place and vineyards
Where the wines begin
Beaune is the town where the company was founded, and Chablis is where Joseph began. In 1968, Robert Drouhin purchased nearly 100 acres of unplanted land in Chablis. This later became a vineyard holding. In 1987, he acquired approximately 100 acres in Oregon's Willamette Valley. The portfolio includes Bourgogne as its regional pair, Beaune Clos des Mouches as a named Beaune wine, and Willamette Valley for the Oregon branch.
The site information is limited to legal geography. Bourgogne is the regional appellation for the entry pair. Beaune Clos des Mouches is a named Beaune wine, and the holdings span Grand Cru and Premier Cru appellations. Soil, slope, exposure and altitude are not specified. The wine descriptions therefore focus on colour, aroma, texture and mineral character.
In the cellar
Vineyards and cellar
Organic farming developed in stages. Drouhin's vineyards were certified organic by 1990, and all vineyards had organic certification by the 2009 vintage. The dates show the progression from early certified vineyard work to estate-wide coverage. No fermentation, élevage, oak, dosage or blending details are attached to this timeline. The record concerns vineyard certification rather than a stated cellar flavour or ageing profile.
Wines to know
The range in view
The range starts with the two Bourgogne wines. Bourgogne Rouge is a red with bright ruby colour and aromas of raspberry, red currant and wild strawberry. Its palate is fruity and refreshing, with light tannins. Bourgogne Blanc is a white with golden yellow colour and a greenish glint. It has fresh-grape and green-almond aromas, a fruity, lively palate and a smooth texture.
Beaune Clos des Mouches Rouge and Blanc carry a named Beaune place. The red has darker fruit, spice and earth. The white is floral and fruity, with grilled nut, citron, mineral character and a fuller texture. The range therefore moves from regional colour, fruit and freshness to the aroma, texture and mineral detail of a named Beaune wine.
A useful way in
A bottle to begin with
Start with Beaune Clos des Mouches Rouge. It is a named Beaune red with ripe black cherry, spice, earth and light smoke. These aromas lead into a round, velvety palate with a touch of tannin. The wine is soft but intense. Depending on the vintage, it can offer immediate fruit when young or age for 10 to 20 years. It brings the specific place on the label together with the Maison's darker red style.