Wine Advisor
Joseph Drouhin, Beaune 1er Cru Clos des Mouches Rouge 2005
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Description
Tasting notes
Reviewed by: Neal Martin
The nose has closed down since I tasted this last year with faint strawberry and raspberry leaf aromas. Medium-bodied on the palate, harmonious but tight. Nice grip on the finish, but this is not playing ball at the moment. Good potential though but it needs some bottle ageing. Drink 2010-2015. Tasted February 2008.
Reviewed by: David Schildknecht
Representing huge domaine holdings and in effect the Drouhin flag ship, their 2005 Beaune Clos des Mouches displays aromas of roasted meat, wood smoke, black truffles, plum and black raspberry. Persistently meaty in the mouth, with plum pit and wet stone adjuncts, this is archetypal 2005: richly ripe yet with an invigorating tart fresh edge and quite dark, even somber in flavor shadings. The long savory finish, while pouring out a generous helping of top quality fruit and meat juices, also offers a veritable catalog of mineral nuances ... if only one had names for them all. This should be terrific in 5-7 years. These 2005s were bottled around two months earlier than usual, says Frederic Drouhin, to retain freshness. (Long-time oenologue Laurence Jobard, incidentally, was replaced this year by Jerome Faure-Brac.) As is always the case, fruit from a great many properties owned or accessed by Drouhin is declassified and blended out, leaving only selected terroirs as the subjects of single-site bottlings. (In 2004, for example, even the Beaune Clos des Mouches – due to hail – was declassified into lip-smacking, remarkably soothing Cote de Beaune.) That said, as befits the quality of 2005, there were more individual bottlings from this vintage than is usual, and I did not taste all of them. (Wines from the Drouhin domaine holdings display a “D” in their listing.) This year’s collection radiates class from top to bottom. Even Drouhin’s ubiquitous, 25,000-case generic “Laforet” displays tender, ripe cherry fruit, a silky palate and iodine-like minerality. Also recommended: 2005 Bourgogne Laforet ($14.00;85). Importer: Dreyfus-Ashby & Co., New York, NY; tel. (212) 818 0770
About the Producer
DEDICATION TO THE DIVERSITY OF BURGUNDY With close to 90 different appellations, Joseph Drouhin offers a fascinating array of Burgundy terroirs in all their authenticity and subtle variations. A FAMILY HERITAGE For the last 140 years, Maison Joseph Drouhin has been in the hands of the Drouhin family. Today, the fourth generation is at the helm, animated by the same passion that inspired the founder of the company. LISTENING TO NATURE Joseph Drouhin has adopted the biological and biodynamic approach. Only natural products are used in the vineyards and all procedures show the utmost respect for the soil, the vine and the environment. AN IDEAL OF PERFECTION AND ELEGANCE The style of Joseph Drouhin is an alliance between character, balance and harmony. Wines meant to be drunk young are fresh and subtle; wines meant for keeping acquire with age a luscious complexity. SHARING WITH THE WORLD The wines of Joseph Drouhin are found on the finest tables. Joseph Drouhin is proud to bring the best of Burgundy to the whole world.
