From the Bourgogne Rouge up to their Clos-de-Bèze and a single barrel of the sadly quantity-depleted Musigny, these were wonderful, life-affirming, quite cerebral wines in the making. Given the enviable, glittering array of holdings, trust me, Drouhin-Laroze could rapidly be up there with the very best, alongside the likes of, say, Rousseau or Mortet. - Neal Martin, robertparker.com, December 2017
We were delighted to be able to visit Domaine Drouhin-Laroze, meet the family and taste their wines in late May this year. We had high hopes and our expectations were exceeded. Across the range the wines showed a clarity of scented fruit aromatics, an expansive yet graceful mid palate, a mineral energy on the finish and an overall sense of harmony that was entrancing. We have consequently secured a small parcel direct from the domaine of the most recent releases. Read below for my notes.
2017 Gevrey-Chambertin, Domaine Drouhin-Laroze
£170 per six bottle case in bond
2017 Clos de Vougeot Grand Cru, Domaine Drouhin-Laroze
£550 per six bottle case in bond
2017 Latricières-Chambertin Grand Cru, Domaine Drouhin-Laroze
£570 per six bottle case in bond
2017 Bonnes Mares Grand Cru, Domaine Drouhin-Laroze
£600 per six bottle case in bond
2017 Chambertin-Clos de Bèze Grand Cru, Domaine Drouhin-Laroze
£690 per six bottle case in bond
By way of background, Domaine Drouhin-Laroze has a history that goes back more than 160 years. It came into being as Drouhin-Laroze in 1919 when Suzanne Laroze, third generation Gevrey-Chambertin vineyard owner, married Alexandre Drouhin, second generation Chambolle-Musigny vineyard owner. Over the course of the last century, further vineyard parcels were carefully added, and the estate now owns 12 hectares. The holdings are quite remarkable; almost fifty percent is Grand Cru, including vines in Musigny, Chapelle and Latricières Chambertin, and an incredible 1.5 hectares in each of Clos de Bèze, Bonnes Mares and Clos de Vougeot.
Leaping forward, their grandson Philippe finally became owner and manager of the estate in 2001. He has driven quality forward, notably in the vineyards, while gradually handing over the reins to his son and daughter, Nicolas and Caroline. He has now given them near total freedom to implement winemaking changes that have taken the quality of the wine to a new level of purity and terroir expression. Longer cold macerations, more whole bunch, less extraction, pigeage by foot are just some of the practices brought in with the aim of producing wines more silky in texture and with heightened elegance of expression.
2017 Gevrey-Chambertin, Domaine Drouhin-Laroze
£170 per six bottle case in bond
Scented, vibrant, floral, summer berry fruit on the nose. The palate displays pure, fresh, ripe raspberry fruit and a caressing creamy texture with a gentle grip towards the finish. This beautifully expresses the darker berry fruit style of Gevrey and the juicy, moreish nature of so many 2017s with elegance and energy that are becoming the hallmark of the domaine. Drink 2020-2027 (ROM)
2017 Clos de Vougeot Grand Cru, Domaine Drouhin-Laroze
£550 per six bottle case in bond
From two small parcels near Echezeaux this Clos de Vougeot exudes fresh, ripe fruit richness on the nose with a lifted note of Asian spice. There is a depth and power on the palate, which nevertheless shows a brightness and an appealing cool sense of ripeness allied to a stony core and mineral persistence. Drink 2022-2037 (ROM)
2017 Latricières-Chambertin Grand Cru, Domaine Drouhin-Laroze
£570 per six bottle case in bond
On the nose here there is an exotic, scented touch with spicy dark fruit and a great sense of depth and power derived of perfectly ripened fruit skins. While the palate shows great fruit concentration, it is the incredible mineral energy that defines this exemplary Latricieres. Mouthwatering, powerfully mineral and of great saline persistence. Drink 2022-2037 (ROM)
2017 Bonnes Mares Grand Cru, Domaine Drouhin-Laroze
£600 per six bottle case in bond
This is an exquisite Bonnes Mares from terre blanc soils in Chambolle Musigny. Expressive, scented, pure. The palate is cushioned, layered, silky, with ripe dark fruit and incredibly fine tannins. Yet there is an energy and tension at the heart of the wine, a taut mineral vein that perfectly encapsulates the estate’s aim of heightened elegant expression. Great persistence and potential. Drink 2024-2040 (ROM)
2017 Chambertin-Clos de Bèze Grand Cru, Domaine Drouhin-Laroze
£690 per six bottle case in bond
Some toast notes show initially on the nose but these give way to an array of coolly ripe dark forest fruit and a floral touch. The palate shows immediate mineral impact with great breadth and depth of dark fruit. There is a notable sense of the power of this terroir but it is beautifully controlled and contained. This undoubtedly needs time but is an excellent expression of Clos de Beze. Drink 2025-2040 (ROM)
With limited quantities available, please let us know at your earliest convenience of your interest. Grand Cru may be subject to allocation.