Tasting Notes

This domaine in the heart of Gevrey Village has one of the most impressive portfolios of premier and grand crus in the Côte de Nuits. Few growers can claim to have eight grand crus under their wing. Winemaker Philippe Drouhin faced the same challenges as everyone else including 17 days of rain in May when temperatures were 3 . 6 degrees below average and a protracted flowering from June 20 until July 7, commencing the harvest on October 4. The vines had been affected by coulure and millerandage, so sorting had to be done, both in the vineyard and in the winery. In many ways, everything I wanted to say about this grower was written in the introduction of their 2012s last year. These can be excellent wines when they want to be, but I would like them to be excellent wines more often. Occasionally there are some « belters ». The musigny Grand Cru was seared with all the audacity and nobility you could shake a stick at, the Mazoyères-Chambertin and Chambertin-Clos de Beze full of «  stuffing », the Clos de Vougeot stylish. But then some other cuvées, such as the Bonne-Mares, Chapelle-Chambertin and Charmes-Chambertin just seem to lack the harmony and conviction you expect from these vineyards. Here is the rub. Philippe kindly let me taste from one-year-old-barrels from the same cooperage so that I could compare and contrast. If I am being hornest, in all but the top three wines I felt that they did not require too much more new wood, which they ineluctably will receive by the end of their 18-month élevage. So, where as in 2012 I felt that the vintage gave them the concentration to support that level of new oak, in 2013 I am less convinced, hence some of my more prudent scores. In a nutshell, I just know that this domaine has the parcels of vine to be up there with the Rousseau's of this this world. It just needs a little...fine-tuning.

Importer(s): Atherton Wine Imports, PO Box 2305, Menlo Park, CA 94026, (415)328-6639, www.awiwine.com Hanses Hanson & Clark, 7 Elystan Street, London, SW3 3NT, www.hhandc.co.uk

2013 - Domaine Drouhin-Laroze  - Musigny -  Grand Cru

A Pinot Noir Dry Red Table wine from France, Chambolle-Musigny, Cote de Nuits, Burgundy, France

Rating : (93-95)

Drink : 2018-2035

The 2013 Musigny Grand Cru, which as usual comprises just two barrels this year, has an endearing boysenberry, raspberry preserve and forest-floor-scented nose (also a little reduction). The palate is underpinned by fine tannins and a keen line of acidity, gradually building to a harmonious finish whereby the oak is deftly interwoven. This is an assured, elegant Musigny in the making, not dissimilar in style to the Musigny from Domaine de la Vougeraie.

2013 - Domaine Drouhin-Laroze - Bonnes-Mares- Grand Cru

A Pinot Noir Dry Red Table wine from France, Chambolle -Musigny, Cote de Nuits, Burgundy, France.

The 2013 Bonnes-Mares Grand Cru has a sensual bouquet in the making with ample ripe black cherries and blueberry on the nose.

The palate is medium-bodied with clearly a lot of toasty new oak that dominates the back end. It needs more fruit to be able to support this, which is why I will defer judgement until the Grand Cru is in bottle.

2013 - Domaine Drouhin-Laroze - Clos de Vougeot - Grand Cru

A Pinot Noir Dry Red Table wine from France, Vougeot, Cote de Nuits, Burgundy, France

Rating : (91-93)

Drink : 2017-2030

The 2013 Clos de Vougeot has a surprisingly backward and austere bouquet at first and only reluctantly opens to offer briary and blackberry notes with traces of seaweed with time. The palate is medium-bodied with spicy red fruit, a keen line of acidity and a sense of harmony and persistence on the finish. This is very commendable Clos de Vougeot from the domaine, definitely one of the best Clos Vougeot from the vintage.

2013 - Domaine Drouhin-Laroze - Chambertin-Clos de Bèze - Grand Cru

A Pinot Noir Dry Red Table wine from France, Gevrey-Chambertin, Cote de Nuits, Burgundy, France.

Rating : (92-94)

Drink : 2018-2032

The 2013 Chambertin-Clos de Bèze Grand Cru has a backward nose a first, opening reluctantly with pure dark plum, briary and mineral notes, but keeping everything in fourth, rather than fifth gear. The palate is well integrated with the oak, touches of brown sugar tincturing the red cherry and rasperry fruit and leading to a nicely poised finish. This is one of the best Grand Crus from the domaine this year.

2013 - Domaine Drouhin-Laroze - Chapelle-Chambertin - Grand Cru

A Pinot Noir Dry Red Table wine from France, Gevrey-Chambertin, Cote de Nuits, Burgundy, France

Rating : (88-90)

Drink : 2017-2027

The 2013 Chapelle-Chambertin Grand Cru has plenty of lilting dark plum and strawberry fruit on the nose, nicely defined and pure. The palate is medium-bodied with supple coffe-tinged black fruit, the Seguin Moreau oak coming on quite strong toward the finish that slightly obscures the terroir expression. Like some of the other of Drouhin-Laroze's 2013s, last year's offering was showing much better.

2013 - Domaine Drouhin-Laroze   -   Latricières-Chambertin   -  Grand Cru

A Pinot Noir Dry Red Table wine from France, Gevrey-Chambertin, Cote de Nuits, Burgundy, France

Rating : (91-93)

Drink : 2018-2032

The 2013 Latricières-Chambertin Grand Cru offers pure red cherry and strawberry scents on the nose, interlaced with vanilla and dried flowers, a touch more complex than the Chapelle-Chambertin at this stage. The palate is quite energetic in the mouth with candied red fruit, minerals and citrus peel. Animated and long, this is a fine Latricières and one of the best offering from the domaine this year.

2013 - Laroze de Drouhin - Charmes-Chambertin - Grand Cru

A Pinot Noir Dry Red Table wine from France, Gevrey-Chambertin, Cote de Nuits, Burgundy, France

Rating : (89-91)

Drink : 2016-2027

The 2013 Charmes-Chambertin Grand Cru has a fresh pastille-like purity on the nose : candied orange peel mixed with strawberry and a touch of vanilia. The palate is medium-bodied with nicely integrated new oak, good body with black cherries, raspberry and a touch of spice on the linear finish. This is a decent Charmes-Chambertin to drink over the next decade.

2013 - Laroze de Drouhin  -  Mazoyères-Chambertin  -  Grand Cru

A Pinot Noir Dry Red Table wine from France, Gevrey-Chambertin, Cote de Nuits, Burgundy, France

Rating : (92-94)

Drink : 2020-2040

The 2013 Mazoyères-Chambertin Grand Cru has a clean and perfumed, quite floral bouquet with rose-petal scents infusing the dark cherry and boysenberry fruit. There is impressive intensity and cohesion evident here. The palate is medium-bodied with silky smooth tannins, fine acidity and very good concentration on the finish, a fulsome and generous Grand Cru with plenty of panache.

2013 - Domaine Drouhin-Laroze - Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru Au Closeau

A Pinot Noir Dry Red Table wine from France, Gevrey-Chambertin, Cote de Nuits, Burgundy, France

Rating : (90-92)

Drink : 2017-2027

The 2013 Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru Au Closeau, which was taken from a one-year-old barrel, has fine, mineral-led bouquet with fine definition. The palate is crisp and delineated with fine tannins and a sense of energy toward the finish. This is one of the better wines from Drouhin-Laroze this year.

2013 - Domaine Drouhin-Laroze - Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru Clos Prieur

A Pinot Noir Dry Red Table wine from France, Gevrey-Chambertin, Cote de Nuits, Burgundy, France

Rating : (88-90)

Drink : 2016-2027

The 2013 Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru Clos Prieur has a more earthy bouquet compared to Drouhin-Laroze's fellow 13s : nicely defined, but broody at first. A few swirls of the glass and it begins to awaken.

The palate is medium-bodied with crisp red tarty fruit, hints of orange and marmalade with a straightforward but focused, easy-drinking finish.