Joseph Drouhin : Musigny Grand cru 2020

Tasting Notes and Serving Recommendations for the Musigny Grand Cru 2020 by Joseph Drouhin

Tasting

Color
The wine displays a deep, pure ruby hue, reflecting the concentration typical of this vintage.

Nose
The nose is expressive and layered, opening on red and black fruit alongside floral notes of violet and a hint of fruit pit, with subtle traces of terroir already emerging.

Palate
The palate reveals remarkable harmony, built on sensual yet lively tannins. The texture evokes silk and velvet, carried by a lovely freshness that balances the wine's concentration and leads to a long, lingering finish.

Food and wine pairings

This Musigny pairs beautifully with refined poultry dishes, tender cuts of beef, and truffle-based specialties such as black truffle risotto. It also complements pan-seared foie gras with mild spices and well-aged cheeses.

Serving and cellaring

We recommend serving the Musigny 2020 at a temperature of 16 to 18°C. Given its youth, decanting can help the wine reveal its full aromatic complexity. With an aging potential of around 40 years, it can be cellared until approximately 2060, though it is expected to reach its optimal maturity between 2035 and 2045.

A Chambolle-Musigny Grand Cru shaped by Joseph Drouhin's terroir-driven style

The Estate

Founded in 1880 in Beaune, Burgundy, Maison Joseph Drouhin has grown into one of the region's largest family-owned estates, with about 100 hectares spanning from Chablis to the Mâconnais. The property is led today by the fourth generation of the Drouhin family – Philippe, Véronique, Laurent and Frédéric – who oversee the vineyards, winemaking, and commercial operations. Joseph Drouhin was an early adopter of organic and biodynamic viticulture in Burgundy, a philosophy that continues to guide the estate's pursuit of finesse, elegance, and genuine terroir expression across its many Grand Cru and Premier Cru holdings.

The Vineyard

The Musigny vineyard lies in the commune of Chambolle-Musigny, in the Côte de Nuits, on a rocky limestone terrace overlooking the Clos de Vougeot, between the Combe de Chambolle and the Combe d'Orveaux. The plot benefits from an east-facing exposure with a gentle slope, and its soil consists of brown limestone with a low clay content, enriched by scree and ancient loam deposits. As on the rest of the estate, the vines are farmed according to organic and biodynamic principles, with high planting density, horse plowing, green manure, and natural compost used to preserve soil health and balance.

The Vintage

The 2020 vintage in Burgundy is described by the estate as a year of notable concentration, yielding deep color and expressive aromatics. The grapes reached full ripeness while retaining freshness, resulting in a vintage the house considers well suited to long aging.

Winemaking and aging

For the Musigny 2020, the grapes were hand-harvested in small perforated crates and sorted when necessary. Depending on the vintage, between 20 and 50% of the harvest is vinified as whole clusters. Fermentation and maceration take place over two to three weeks in small open vats, with punching down and pump-overs, relying on native yeasts. The wine is then pressed in a vertical press, with the press juice selected according to tasting. Aging lasts 16 to 20 months in French oak barrels, about 30% of which are new, crafted from wood sourced from high-forest French oak trees.

Grape Varieties

100% pinot noir.