Joseph Drouhin : Clos de Vougeot Grand cru 2018

Tasting Notes and Advice for Joseph Drouhin’s Clos de Vougeot Grand Cru 2018

Tasting

Appearance

The wine displays a magnificent deep ruby-red hue, bright and intense, characteristic of Pinot Noir grown under optimal conditions.

Nose

The nose reveals intense aromas of raspberry and wild cherry. With aeration, the bouquet develops toward more complex notes of forest floor, truffle, and candied fruit, accompanied by hints of blackcurrant, plum, dark chocolate, incense, and flower petals.

Palate

On the palate, this Grand Cru stands out for its sublime structure and refined tannins with a noble, elegant character. Rich and enveloping, the wine offers a velvety texture and remarkable concentration. The balance between alcohol and acidity is exemplary, giving the wine perfect harmony. The finish lingers with astonishing aromatic persistence.

Food and Wine Pairings

This Clos de Vougeot Grand Cru 2018 is an ideal match for roasted red meats, feathered or furred game, as well as characterful aged cheeses such as Époisses, Langres, or Ami du Chambertin.

Serving and Cellaring

Clos de Vougeot Grand Cru 2018 is best enjoyed at a temperature between 16 and 18°C. While it is already approachable for tasting, this wine has exceptional aging potential of up to around 40 years. The optimal drinking window extends to around 2043.

The balance and richness of a Côte de Nuits Grand Cru

The estate

Founded in 1880 in Beaune by Joseph Drouhin, then 22 years old, the Maison Joseph Drouhin is now led by Frédéric Drouhin, representing the fourth family generation. The estate owns around 100 hectares of vines spread throughout Burgundy, including 14 Grands Crus and 20 Premiers Crus. A pioneer in sustainable viticulture, the Maison has practiced organic and biodynamic farming since the 1980s, embodying a philosophy of “elegant perfection” that favors refinement and the authentic expression of Burgundy terroirs.

The vineyard

Clos de Vougeot is one of the most prestigious vineyards in Burgundy. This 50-hectare Grand Cru, located in the commune of Vougeot in Côte de Nuits, was established by the Cistercian monks of the Abbey of Cîteaux as early as the 12th century. Maison Joseph Drouhin owns two plots totaling around 0.90 hectare within this historic clos, benefiting from an east-facing exposure on a gentle slope. The soils present a complex mosaic of limestone and clay in varying proportions. The vines, averaging 31 years of age, develop deep root systems, enabling complex mineral extraction and remarkable fruit concentration.

The vintage

The 2018 vintage in Burgundy is recognized as a great vintage. The growing season unfolded under favorable conditions, producing wines with considerable structure, intense aromatic expression, and exemplary balance between alcohol and acidity.

Winemaking and aging

The grapes for Clos de Vougeot Grand Cru 2018 were harvested by hand into ventilated crates, then meticulously sorted. Fermentation included between 20% and 50% whole clusters, depending on the assessment of each lot. Fermentation and maceration took place over two to three weeks with punch-downs and pump-overs, using native yeasts. After vertical pressing, the wine was aged for 16 to 20 months in 225-liter French oak barrels, 30% of which were new. The oak comes from high-forest stands and was air-dried for more than three years before the barrels were made.

Grape variety

100% Pinot Noir.