Joseph Drouhin : Chambolle-Musigny 1er cru 2021

Tasting characteristics and advice for the Chambolle-Musigny Premier Cru 2021 from Joseph Drouhin

Tasting

Appearance

The wine displays a bright, vivid red color.

Nose

The nose reveals lovely aromatic complexity with notes of violet and black cherry, accompanied by hints of damp earth. With aeration, aromas of truffle and game gradually emerge.

Palate

On the palate, this wine charms with its silky tannins that elegantly coat the mouth. The balance between texture and acidity is remarkable, offering beautiful freshness. The finish lingers with persistent notes of cherry and candied fruits.

Food and wine pairings

This Chambolle-Musigny Premier Cru pairs perfectly with poultry in a cream and mushroom sauce, notably a chicken supreme with morels. It also matches very well with roast duck with red fruits, feathered game in sauce, or a beef tenderloin with wild mushrooms. When it comes to cheese, opt for soft, bloomy-rind cheeses such as Brillat-Savarin, Reblochon, or Brie de Meaux.

Serving and cellaring

This Chambolle-Musigny Premier Cru 2021 is best enjoyed at a temperature of 16°C. Its cellaring potential extends to around 2046.

An elegant and harmonious Chambolle-Musigny Premier Cru signed Joseph Drouhin

The estate

Founded in 1880 by Joseph Drouhin, the Joseph Drouhin House is one of Burgundy’s essential benchmarks. Based in the heart of Beaune, it now owns 100 hectares of vineyards spread across more than 90 appellations, including 14 Grands Crus and 30 Premiers Crus. Led by the family’s fourth generation, with Frédéric Drouhin as president and Véronique Boss-Drouhin as head winemaker, the House stands out for its pioneering commitment to organic and biodynamic viticulture, certified since 2009. The family has also extended its expertise to Oregon with the creation of Domaine Drouhin Oregon in 1987.

The vineyard

The Chambolle-Musigny Premier Cru from Joseph Drouhin comes from five distinct plots located within the Chambolle-Musigny appellation: Noirots, Hauts Doix, Borniques, Plantes and Combottes. These plots, each too small to be vinified separately, are harvested and blended to create a collective expression of the Chambolle-Musigny Premier Cru terroirs. The vines grow on shallow soils composed of Jurassic limestone, providing excellent drainage and allowing the roots to draw minerals and water from deep within the ground. The exposure is east-facing, at an altitude between 250 and 300 meters.

The vintage

The 2021 vintage in Burgundy proved particularly challenging, marked by spring frosts, downy mildew pressure, and diseases that significantly reduced yields. Despite these climatic challenges, the red wines produced express a classic Burgundian character, with more moderate alcohol levels than in previous vintages. The harvest, though very small in volume, made it possible to obtain harmonious, elegant wines that favor freshness and fruit expression.

Winemaking and aging

The grapes for the Chambolle-Musigny Premier Cru 2021 are harvested exclusively by hand and placed in ventilated crates before careful sorting. Vinification includes between 20 and 50% whole clusters depending on the characteristics of the vintage. Fermentation and maceration take place over 2 to 3 weeks in small open-top vats, with traditional punch-downs and pump-overs. Indigenous yeasts naturally carry out the fermentation. After pressing in a traditional vertical press, the wine is aged in French oak barrels for 14 to 18 months, with 25% new barrels and 75% barrels that have held one wine or more. All decisions are made after tasting, favoring the authentic expression of the terroir.

Grape variety

100% Pinot Noir