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Wine Description
The Story
Clos des Mouches is the beating heart of the Drouhin Family’s life in Burgundy. A subtle vineyard mosaic, an essay in terroir, a symbol of hard work and shared joy, Clos des Mouches has been synonymous with Maison Joseph Drouhin since 1921.
Clos des Mouches blanc is revered for its purity of focus and expression. It is a Chardonnay that shines aromatically with intense, complex, and pure notes of white flowers, lush fruits, and gentle spices. This same pure quality manifests as structure and fullness, energy and finesse, elegance, and a remarkable length on the palate.Always at home on a dining table, Clos des Mouches blanc pairs with an exceptional range of cuisines, from grilled lobster to crispy sweetbreads, roasted turbot to saffron scallops, straight through to eggs with truffles, spaghetti alle vongole, or certain cheeses such as Comté, and so much more.
This legendary Premier Cru, which produces elegant, subtle, complex, and sublime white and red wines, is the genesis of the family estate.Today, Maurice Drouhin’s vision and commitment to authentic Burgundy, and his singular approach to a very special place, are upheld by the family’s third, fourth and fifth generations. The incredible stories, emotions, and inspiring vintages are why the family holds Clos des Mouches so dear and why it is so closely linked to the Maison’s identity. The hundredth anniversary is not merely a celebration of the past but a recognition of a living heritage that has survived all manner of human endeavors.
Today, a century later, the Clos des Mouches continues to occupy a unique place among the hundred appellations and the 80 hectares of Maison Joseph Drouhin. While not a monopole, Drouhin produces the lion’s share of the appellation. The vineyard is a geological patchwork of limestone marls, clays, and slabs with varying soil depths, altitudes, and orientations, covering 14 hectares. Most of the vines are between 25 and 50 years old, with some over 85 years old. Massale selection is used when replanting, and horses are a common sight at work in the vineyard. In this ecosystem, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir are spread over twenty unique plots. This rich palette is what allows the Drouhin family to express the identity of Clos des Mouches each year in all its complexity. It is an ideal portrait of the place and an embodiment of the Joseph Drouhin style – the marriage of elegance, finesse, complexity, depth, and excellence.
Wine Information
“The year started with an early bud- break at the start of April and we already had the flowers in early May. A year that was dry and ‘luminous’ in the summer then veraison already started in mid-July. Aug 30 to September 08 was the actual harvesting window in our Clos des Mouches – some 25% of whole clusters used for the red. Whites bottled after the reds in this vintage – which isn’t always the case but it’s our tasting that will determine.”
The strength of Clos des Mouches lies, of course, in the exceptional character of its terroir, but also in the way in which it invites itself into the imagination of all great wine lovers. A place of serenity, of memory; it evokes dreams and rarity, a luxury at hand for those who want to savor it. Frédéric Drouhin, CEO and "conductor" of the Maison Joseph Drouhin, is proud of the Clos des Mouches' identity and the worldwide acclaim it enjoys. "The wines from Clos des Mouches are distributed in more than 90 countries, which is considerable when we observe that the great wines of Burgundy are associated with rarity," he explains."It is essential for us that this wine, without conceding anything about its exceptional character and its magic inherited from the place from where it comes, continues to be accessible to wine lovers around the world. It is a story that is shared, renewed, and transmitted.It is first and foremost a name ("a name that makes you smile, a wine that makes you swoon," said Jean Cocteau); a site to which our whole family is irremediably attached. It is a collection of memories, anecdotes, and references, like suspended time. In red as in white, it is also a wine that goes well with a wide range of cuisines, from the simplest to the most sophisticated.
The Clos des Mouches is, above all, a great wine of emotion. Each bunch of grapes carries 80 grams of elegance and complexity, and that's what we take care to preserve." Passionate about travel and gastronomy, Frédéric Drouhin is delighted that the Clos des Mouches is served on the greatest tables in the world and has conquered the leading lights of the world and celebrities. Michelin-starred chefs, renowned sommeliers, movie stars (Sean Connery counted it among his favorite wines), and even in the Elysée cellar, all have one day been entranced by the wines of Clos des Mouches.Among the countries in which it is the most popular: The United States. Laurent Drouhin who is based in New York and is responsible for the US, notes that "From the 1920s, Joseph Drouhin wines have been distributed in North America, and we believe that the Clos des Mouches first arrived prior to the second world war. Our family has always had, in each generation, strong ties with the United States, and we are proud that this relationship remains as vivid." A number of wines have worldwide fame, the Clos des Mouches among them. Many great wine lovers have elevated it to the rank of myth, awakening all of the mystery and prestige of the Burgundy climats. Above all, it is identified with the Drouhin family and a multi-generational pursuit of excellence
Vintage 2018
Burgundy 2018: An ideal vintage
The 2018 vintage was met with a unanimous show of satisfaction from the north of Bourgogne to the south. The exceptional weather, especially during the harvest period, resulted in grapes with perfect health, allowing picking to extend over almost a whole month. Initial tastings ahead of the Hospices de Beaune Wine Auction have given an early idea that 2018 will be a truly great year.
The vines had built up some reserves over winter thanks to some very rainy weather, and the growth cycle began on the late side. When the sun started to show in April, the vines sprang into life, with budburst taking place very rapidly. The mild weather then allowed the plants to make up for lost time, even getting ahead of the average. Frosts in April sent a shudder across the whole region, but damage remained very limited. Flowering and fruit setting took place without hindrance.
Summer saw constant heat and drought, apart from a few hail storms in early July that were of no great consequence. The vines continued to grow at a fast pace until mid-August. Veraison took a little longer in places, the heat and lack of water affecting some of the younger vineyards. Nonetheless, since the hydric reserves had been restocked over winter, most of the vines came to maturity nicely thanks to the ideal weather conditions.
The first grapes were picked in the last 10 days of August. Since the dates of flowering, the rainfall and temperature varied greatly from one area to another, harvesting extended into the last 10 days of September.
The fruit was in extraordinarily good health, and the weather was perfect, allowing each winemaker to harvest at the optimum moment. The mood was serene across the whole wine region, producers enjoying this magnificent vintage that combined quality and quantity. Many think this will be one of the best vintages in many years.
Vinification of the whites went without a problem, the grapes having retained a good level of acidity despite the heat.
The reds required a little more attention during vinification due to the relatively high level of potential alcohol.
White wines
In 2018, the aromatic complexity of the white wines is incredible. They are explosive on the nose, with an amazing diversity that reflects each terroir. The wines have a certain crispness and good minerality. In the mouth, they are rounded and generous, balanced with a nice tension.
Red wines
The 2018 reds have a seductive intense color. They are already well structured and powerful, with nicely- integrated tannins and good concentration of fruit. These exceptional wines are perfectly balanced, and are already tasting well in their first flush of youth.
This is a delicious vintage with splendid maturity.
Crémant de Bourgogne
This is a benchmark year, with expressive aromas that vary from one varietal to another, promising balanced and aromatic base wines. The Pinot Noirs are generous, with notes of cherry and rose, resulting in balanced wines with a pleasant freshness. The Chardonnays are powerful, with moderate acidity, making them well- rounded. The fruit aromas reveal some exotic notes, nuanced by fragrances of apple and peach. The Gamays have delicate aromas of raspberry and strawberry, underscored by citrus touches (clementine, lemon). The Aligotés are sharp and lemony, as usual, with good length in the mouth.