Joseph Drouhin : Chambolle-Musigny 1er cru "Amoureuses" 2020

Tasting Characteristics and Tips for the Chambolle-Musigny 1er Cru "Amoureuses" 2020 by Joseph Drouhin

Tasting

Color

The color displays a cherry-to-ruby hue.

Nose

The nose reveals a broad palette of seductive aromas, evolving from raspberry to kirsch. Notes of truffle, mushroom, and wood may appear, sometimes joined by musky, even animal nuances. The whole remains consistently restrained and elegant, with touches of rose, peony, and warm spices.

Palate

On the palate, this wine offers a wonderful silky sensation carried by very refined tannins. Intensity combines with a velvety texture and invigorating freshness in a masterpiece of harmony. The very delicate finish leaves an impression of supreme refinement, with remarkable length and an intensely perfumed character.

Food and Wine Pairing

This Chambolle-Musigny Premier Cru pairs perfectly with white meats in cream and mushroom sauce, duck breast with a cherry sauce, or a veal fillet with truffled jus. It also elegantly complements aged cheeses such as Comté or Saint-Nectaire, as well as poultry, pork, or rabbit dishes.

Serving and Cellaring

The Chambolle-Musigny 1er Cru "Amoureuses" 2020 is ideally enjoyed at a temperature between 16 and 18°C. This wine can be appreciated within an optimal drinking window of 10 to 20 years, with cellaring potential that can reach around 25 years for bottles kept in ideal conditions.

A Highly Elegant Chambolle-Musigny Premier Cru by Joseph Drouhin

The estate

Founded in 1880 by Joseph Drouhin, then 22 years old, the Joseph Drouhin house is an iconic institution in Burgundy. Now run by the family's fourth generation, with Frédéric Drouhin as president, Véronique Boss-Drouhin as head winemaker, Philippe Drouhin in charge of the vineyards, and Laurent Drouhin as export director, the house oversees around 80 to 100 hectares of vines spread across 90 different appellations. A pioneer in sustainable winegrowing, it has practiced organic farming since 1988 and biodynamics since 1996, becoming the largest biodynamic producer in Burgundy. The house stands out for a philosophy that favors elegance, balance, and the pure expression of terroir.

The vineyard

The Chambolle-Musigny 1er Cru "Les Amoureuses" comes from one of the most famous Climats of the Côte de Nuits. This 5.40-hectare vineyard, whose name evokes poetry and seduction, is divided into two parts: a small section located just above the Grand Cru Musigny, and a larger part below. The terroir is characterized by clay-limestone soils with a limestone content slightly higher than the Burgundy average, giving the wines their delicate color and pronounced aromatic character. The terrain, fragmented by ancient quarries, benefits from a favorable exposure and an ideal geological composition for pinot noir.

The vintage

The 2020 vintage in Burgundy proved exceptional despite contrasting weather conditions. After a mild, wet winter that replenished water reserves, budbreak occurred about a month earlier than usual. Flowering took place in early June under cool, humid conditions. From June through harvest, conditions became hot and dry, making 2020 the driest year since 1945. The early harvest, beginning in late August, required precise decisions regarding the optimal picking date. The absence of extreme heatwaves helped preserve tartaric acidity, resulting in fresh, precise red wines with a fine acidity that harmonizes the ripe fruit.

Winemaking and aging

The grapes for the Chambolle-Musigny 1er Cru "Amoureuses" 2020 were hand-harvested into ventilated crates and then carefully sorted. Vinification used between 20% and 50% whole clusters depending on the specifics of the vintage. Fermentation and maceration took place in small open vats for two to three weeks, with gentle punch-downs and pump-overs to manage extraction. Indigenous yeasts were used to respect the vineyard’s microbial terroir. After vertical pressing, aging was carried out in French oak barrels for 14 to 18 months, 25% new oak, the remainder made up of one- to three-year-old barrels. The entire process favored the authentic expression of terroir and vintage.

Grape variety

100% pinot noir