Joseph Drouhin : Chambertin-Clos de Beze Grand cru 2017

Characteristics and Tasting Notes of Chambertin-Clos de Bèze 2017 Joseph Drouhin

Tasting

Color

The wine displays a deep, intense ruby red hue with bright highlights, reflecting the concentration of the Pinot Noir grapes harvested on this grand cru.

Nose

The nose opens with powerful yet refined aromas, combining black fruit notes, particularly black cherry, with hints of dark chocolate. With time in the glass, more complex nuances emerge, evoking humus, the forest floor, truffle, and licorice.

Palate

The palate reveals a solid structure, with tannins perfectly balanced by a velvety, almost caressing texture. The finish is long, bringing back notes of cherry and licorice in a true kaleidoscope of sensations.

Food and wine pairings

This wine pairs beautifully with noble red meats, such as roasted or pan-seared beef fillet served with a reduced jus and mushroom garnishes. It also shines alongside game dishes, like venison or hare prepared in a rich brown sauce. Quality poultry, such as duck, guinea fowl, or pigeon, roasted and served with root vegetable sides, makes for a harmonious match as well. Truffle-based preparations, including scrambled eggs, risotto, or ravioli, further highlight the wine's emerging tertiary notes.

Serving and cellaring

Chambertin-Clos de Bèze 2017 is best served at a temperature of around 61–64°F (16–18°C), allowing its aromatic freshness to fully express itself without the alcohol becoming too prominent.

Other characteristics

This grand cru was crafted with roughly 40% whole-cluster fermentation, a notably high proportion contributing to its structure and aromatic complexity, bringing spicy and floral nuances along with added freshness.

A Grand Cru from Gevrey-Chambertin Showcasing the Joseph Drouhin Style

The Estate

Founded in 1880 in Beaune, Maison Joseph Drouhin has grown over five generations into one of Burgundy's most prominent domaines, with roughly 100 hectares of vineyards spanning Chablis, the Côte de Nuits, the Côte de Beaune, the Côte Chalonnaise, and the Mâconnais. Today, the estate is led by Philippe, Véronique, Laurent, and Frédéric Drouhin, the great-grandchildren of the founder. Pioneers of organic and biodynamic viticulture in Burgundy, the family also extended its vision overseas with Domaine Drouhin Oregon, built on a philosophy of precision, elegance, and respect for terroir.

The Vineyard

Chambertin-Clos de Bèze comes from one of the most historic climats in Gevrey-Chambertin, located in the northern part of the Côte de Nuits on an east-facing slope with gentle gradient, offering ideal morning sun exposure and natural drainage. The soils combine red clay, limestone, and broken stones, giving the wines remarkable depth and aging potential. The vines are farmed according to organic and biodynamic principles, with high planting density and moderate yields that allow the grapes to fully express the character of this prestigious terroir.

The Vintage

The 2017 vintage allowed for grapes to reach good ripeness relatively early in the season, with harvest taking place around September 8 to 11. These favorable conditions contributed to balanced maturity across the Pinot Noir grapes destined for this grand cru.

Winemaking and aging

For Chambertin-Clos de Bèze 2017, grapes were hand-harvested in small, perforated crates to preserve their integrity. Fermentation and maceration lasted two to three weeks in small open vats, with punching down and pump-overs adjusted according to the character of the vintage. Indigenous yeasts were used throughout fermentation, and pressing was carried out using a vertical press, with press fractions tasted separately to ensure only the finest portions were included in the final blend. The wine was aged in French oak barrels, with about 30% new wood, for a period of 16 to 20 months, with regular tastings guiding decisions throughout the aging process.

Grape Variety

100% pinot noir.