Joseph Drouhin : Beaune 1er cru "Clos des Mouches" 1976

Characteristics and tasting notes of the Beaune 1er cru "Clos des Mouches" 1976 from Joseph Drouhin

Tasting

Appearance
This wine reveals a pale garnet hue adorned with orange reflections, typical of a long evolution. Of remarkable clarity, it displays a fine natural decantation.

Nose
The bouquet unveils a beautiful tertiary maturity. Aromas of undergrowth, aged leather, white truffle and blond tobacco intertwine with subtle balsamic touches and toasted cedar, all underlined by a delicate saline hint.

Palate
The attack proves particularly silky, offering melted tannins with a velvety texture. Sustained by a well-judged tension, the dense matter unfurls aromas of morello cherry jam, black liquorice and bitter cocoa. The finish, of remarkable persistence, lingers on a saline minerality accompanied by nuances of white pepper and dried violet.

Food and wine pairings

This red wine pairs wonderfully with refined and understated dishes. It will sublimate a roasted quail with sweet spices and wild mushrooms, or a matured beef tartare enhanced with black truffle. To end the meal, a cheese such as an Époisses matured in Marc de Bourgogne will make an excellent accompaniment. It is best to avoid overly rich or spicy sauces.

Service and cellaring

In order to preserve all the complexity of this 1976 vintage, the estate recommends optimal storage in complete darkness, with the bottle laid down, in a natural cellar maintaining a constant temperature of 12°C.

The authentic expression of a Beaune Pinot Noir by the Joseph Drouhin estate

The estate

Legally founded in 1880 in Beaune, the Joseph Drouhin House is an essential figure of Burgundy. With a vineyard stretching across nearly 180 hectares throughout the most prestigious terroirs of the region, the estate has managed to preserve its independence. Today, the capital still belongs 100% to the founding family. Management is led by Véronique Drouhin-Boss, who perpetuates the excellence of this pioneering institution of biodynamics, brilliantly combining her role as meticulous producer and demanding négociant.

The vineyard

Located at the heart of the Côte de Beaune, the famous Clos des Mouches climat flourishes on slopes facing south-east. The vines lie on soils composed of clay-siliceous limestone, fostering an ideal ripening of the berries. Cultivated according to the principles of biodynamics, the historic plots benefit from soil work carried out by horse in order to prevent any compaction, illustrating a profound respect for the terroir.

The vintage

The year 1976 remains in memory as one of the hottest and most arid of the century in Europe. This extreme climate generated significant water stress within the vines, hastening the vegetative cycle. The harvest thus took place very early, from the first days of September, yielding berries endowed with a high concentration of sugars.

Vinification and ageing

Faced with the climatic challenges of the year, the elaboration of this wine required an extremely rigorous sorting of the grapes. The wine then benefited from meticulous ageing in two-year-old French oak barrels. In order to preserve the integrity of its structure, the fining and filtration stages were kept to a strict minimum before bottling, carried out with very high quality cork stoppers fostering a slow micro-oxygenation.

Grape variety

This wine is made from 100% Pinot Noir, incorporating an unusual share of an ancient clone particularly resistant to drought.