| Region of production: | Côte d’Or |
| Winery Location: | Beaune |
| Year Established: | 1880 |
Vineyard Holdings
73 ha total (including 38 ha in Chablis and 3 ha in the Côte Chalonnaise)
- Montrachet Grand Cru: 2.06 ha Chardonnay, planted in 1961, 1969 and 1984 (owned by Marquis de Laguiche)
- Musigny Grand Cru: 0.68 ha Pinot Noir, planted in 1980
- Chambertin Grand Cru
- Chambertin-Clos de Bèze Grand Cru: 0.13 ha
- Griotte-Chambertin Grand Cru: 0.52 ha; average vine age is 27 years
- Bonnes-Mares Grand Cru: 0.23 ha Pinot Noir, planted in 1967
- Clos de la Roche Grand Cru
- Clos de Vougeot Grand Cru: 0.91 ha Pinot Noir, planted in 1977
- Echézeaux Grand Cru: 0.46 ha Pinot Noir, planted in 1977
- Grands-Echézeaux Grand Cru: 0.47 ha; average vine age is 22 years
- Beaune Clos des Mouches Premier Cru: 6.8 ha Chardonnay, planted in 1964; 6.8 ha Pinot Noir, planted in 1974
- Vosne-Romanée Petits-Monts Premier Cru: 0.39 ha; average vine age is 51 years
- Chambolle-Musigny Amoureuses Premier Cru: 0.59 ha; average vine age is 49 years
Top Wines Produced
- Montrachet “Marquis de Laguiche” Grand Cru
- Musigny Grand Cru
- Beaune Clos des Mouches Premier Cru (white and red)
- Chassagne-Montrachet Morgeot “Marquis de Laguiche” Premier Cru (white)
Inaugural Vintages
- Montrachet “Marquis de Laguiche” in 1947
Average Total Production
- N/A
Summary
Joseph Drouhin moved from his native Chablis to Beaune in 1880, where he purchased an existing négociant business as well as the winery and cellars of the Collegiale Church, the cellars of the Dukes of Burgundy and the House of the Diénat – historic buildings which still serve as the heart of the domaine today. The Drouhin family has always been forward-thinking: Joseph’s son, Maurice, bought 14 hectares of unplanted land in their flagship Clos des Mouches in the 1920s, and Maurice’s son, Robert, bought 38 hectares in then-unfashionable Chablis in 1968. He also made a revolutionary purchase of 40 hectares in the Willamette Valley, which led to the founding of Domaine Drouhin. Robert’s son, Philippe, joined the business in 1988 and introduced organic viticulture to the vineyards – all estate vineyards were converted to organic viticulture by the late 1990s; Ecocert certification followed in 2006, and today vineyards are mostly farmed biodynamically. Robert’s four children now run the business: Philippe manages the vineyards, Frédéric is the general manager, Véronique oversees the winemaking, and Laurent runs business in the United States. In addition to their own substantial vineyard holdings, Drouhin also controls the vineyards of the Marquis de Laguiche, which includes the largest single parcel of Montrachet at 2.06 hectares.
Style & Vinification Techniques
Drouhin’s white grapes are whole-cluster pressed and settled overnight to remove the gross lees. The white wines ferment in oak without cultured yeasts, and the percentage of new oak is 10-20% maximum, with the grands crus usually fermented and aged in once-used oak. Drouhin purchases their own stave wood, aging it for three years prior to making barrels. The whites are generally bottled after 12-15 months in oak. The red grapes are generally de-stemmed (depending on vintage) and cooled down for the start of fermentation. After pressing, the reds are aged in up to 30% new oak for 12-18 months prior to bottling. The Drouhin wines are never blockbusters, instead emphasizing elegance and clarity.
Producer Website: Joseph Drouhin