Joseph Drouhin : Chambertin-Clos de Bèze Grand cru 2020

Characteristics and tasting tips for the Chambertin-Clos de Bèze Grand Cru 2020 from Joseph Drouhin

Tasting

Color

The color displays a magnificent intense ruby-red hue, bright and deep, reflecting the remarkable concentration of the vintage.

Nose

The nose is expressive and complex, evoking aromas of black cherry and dark chocolate. The terroir’s nuances come through beautifully in a bouquet combining red and black fruits.

Palate

On the palate, this grand cru charms with powerful yet refined tannins. Its impressive structure is matched by fine concentration, with notes of cherry and licorice lingering on the finish.

Food and wine pairings

This Chambertin-Clos de Bèze pairs ideally with red meats in sauce, feathered game, or aged cheeses. It also enhances dishes featuring mushrooms and truffles.

Serving and cellaring

The Chambertin-Clos de Bèze Grand Cru 2020 is best enjoyed between 16 and 18°C. This wine can be enjoyed between 15 and 25 years after the vintage and has aging potential of up to around 40 years under optimal cellaring conditions.

A great Burgundy grand cru marked by freshness and elegance

The estate

Founded in 1880 in Beaune by Joseph Drouhin, then twenty-two years old, the Joseph Drouhin House gradually established itself as one of Burgundy’s essential benchmarks. Now led by the family’s fourth generation with Frédéric Drouhin as President, the estate farms around 100 hectares of vineyards across all the major Burgundy appellations. A pioneer in sustainable viticulture, the house has practiced organic farming for more than thirty-five years and biodynamics since the 1990s. This environmental philosophy goes hand in hand with an approach that favors estate production over traditional négociant activity.

The vineyard

Chambertin-Clos de Bèze is one of the most prestigious and oldest grands crus of Burgundy, with a history dating back to 630 A.D., when the monks of the Abbey of Bèze established this vineyard. Located in the commune of Gevrey-Chambertin in the north of the Côte de Nuits, this 14.40-hectare clos benefits from an eastern exposure and a gentle slope that promote optimal ripening. The complex soils, made up of red clay, limestone, and crushed stones, give the wines exceptional structure and remarkable depth.

The vintage

The 2020 vintage in Burgundy is characterized by remarkable concentration. After a winter with normal rainfall, the exceptionally hot, sunny summer allowed the grapes to ripen ideally. Moderately dry conditions encouraged aromatic development without excessive water stress. Harvest began on September 5 in the Côte de Nuits, enabling fruit to be picked at optimal physiological ripeness in favorable weather.

Winemaking and aging

The grapes for Chambertin-Clos de Bèze Grand Cru 2020 are harvested by hand into ventilated crates to preserve the integrity of the berries. After meticulous sorting, vinification takes place in small, open wooden vats with a proportion of whole clusters. Alcoholic fermentation, carried out by indigenous yeasts, lasts two to three weeks, punctuated by regular punch-downs and pump-overs. After malolactic fermentation, the wine is aged for 16 to 20 months in French oak barrels, 30% new and 70% one-wine barrels, allowing for harmonious integration of the oak.

Grape variety

100% Pinot Noir