2011 Joseph Drouhin Beaune 1er Cru “Clos des Mouches” Rouge, Burgundy, France

ABOUT THIS WINE

The vineyards from which the grapes in this wine were harvested, are located the southern end of the Beaune appellation, next to Pommard. The Drouhin vineyard is at mid-slope, on a mild incline with an east/south east exposure. It is the largest parcel of the Clos des Mouches (14 hectares - 35 acres), half planted with chardonnay, the other with pinot noir. The soil consists of clay and limestone, with rocky soil in the upper part of the vineyard. At the center, the soil is limestone and marl. This light composition favors the great finesse of the wine.

The name "mouches" means flies. There were once bee-hives in this sun-drenched clos - the bees in the local dialect were called "mouches à miel" (honey flies), hence the name Clos des Mouches. It is one of the first vineyards acquired by Maurice Drouhin (the founder's son) in the 1920's. With great determination, he bought 41 different parcels from 8 proprietors. It is planted out in equal quantities of red and white grapes and both wines have achieved mythical status for the House of Joseph Drouhin.

2011 was an earlier, somewhat irregular growing season in Burgundy, and Drouhin reported low yields in both the Côte de Beaune and Côte de Nuits. The estate described the resulting wines as charming, generous, precise, and particularly good at expressing individual terroirs. For its 2011 reds specifically, Drouhin notes dark-fruit and spice characteristics with rounded tannins.

Drouhin’s standard Clos des Mouches Rouge approach involves hand harvesting and careful sorting, followed by 20–50% whole-cluster fermentation depending on the vintage. Fermentation and maceration take place for roughly 2–3 weeks in small open vats, using indigenous yeasts, with both punch-downs and pump-overs. The wine is then pressed in a vertical press.

For 2011 specifically, Drouhin reported that the quality of the red grapes allowed it to retain a small proportion of whole bunches, particularly for its finer appellations, so the 2011 Clos des Mouches likely fell toward the restrained end of its normal whole-cluster range. Drouhin also bottled the 2011s relatively early to preserve fruit and elegance.

The Clos des Mouches Rouge is generally matured 14–18 months in French oak, approximately 25% new, with the remainder in older barrels.

ABOUT THIS PRODUCER

Maison Joseph Drouhin was founded in Beaune in 1880, when Joseph Drouhin took over a wine business at just 22 years old. Over four generations, the family developed the house into both a major vineyard owner and a négociant, meaning Drouhin produces wines from its own vineyards while also working with grapes from trusted growers. Today, its estate holdings span roughly 100 hectares throughout Burgundy, from Chablis through the Côte de Nuits and Côte de Beaune to the Côte Chalonnaise and Mâconnais. The holdings include celebrated sites such as Musigny, Clos de Vougeot, Grands Échezeaux, Corton-Charlemagne, Bâtard-Montrachet, and Beaune 1er Cru Clos des Mouches.

Drouhin is particularly known for an elegant, restrained style rather than sheer power. The family describes elegance and harmony as guiding principles, aiming for Pinot Noir and Chardonnay that emphasize perfume, freshness, finesse, and transparency to their vineyard sites. Under Philippe Drouhin, the estate began moving toward organic and biodynamic farming in the late 1980s, using practices such as cover crops, composting, horse plowing, and biodynamic preparations. In the cellar, the approach is similarly sensitive, with indigenous yeasts and techniques adapted to the individual vineyard rather than imposing one formula on every wine.

The modern family leadership includes fourth-generation siblings Philippe, Véronique, Laurent, and Frédéric Drouhin. Philippe oversees the vineyards, while Véronique has an especially important role in defining the family's wine style. The fifth generation has also begun entering the business.