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Our wines
Beaune Clos des Mouches « L'Ouvrée des Dames » blanc
Premier Cru
2005
Service
-
Cellaring
Optimal consumption: 8 to 10 years
Ageing potential: 15 years
-
Tasting temperature
14°C (57°F)
Why this name « Ouvrée des Dames »? An « ouvrée» is an ancient measure representing the amount of land a vigneron can work in one day.
The natural elegance of Joseph Drouhin wines is intimately related to women: from Laurence Jobard to Véronique Drouhin today. In 2005, a beautiful vintage, they vinified together this exclusive cuvée of Clos des Mouches on a 16th century press, in the heart of Beaune. As a tribute to these exceptional women, this limited edition bears the name « Ouvrée des Dames ».
Grape variety
Chardonnay
Vineyard
Producing commune: Beaune.
Site: at the southern end of the Beaune appellation, next to Pommard. The Drouhin vineyard is at mid-slope, on a mild incline with an east/south east exposure. It is the largest parcel of the Clos des Mouches (14 hectares - 35 acres), one half planted with chardonnay, the other with pinot noir.
History & tradition: the name « mouches » means flies. There were once bee-hives in this sun-drenched « clos » (vineyard enclosure); the bees in the local dialect were called « mouches à miel » (honey flies), hence the name Clos des Mouches. It is one of the first vineyards acquired by Maurice Drouhin (the founder's son) in the 1920's. With great determination, he bought 41 different parcels from 8 proprietors. It is planted out in equal quantities of red and white grapes and both wines have achieved mythical status for the House of Joseph Drouhin.
Celebration of its 100 years of history at Maison Joseph Drouhin in 2021.
Soil: clay and limestone. Rocky soil in the upper part of the vineyard. At the center, the soil is limestone and marl. This light composition favours the great finesse of the wine.
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Tasting
by Véronique Boss-Drouhin
An outstanding wine. Pale yellow colour. Complex floral nose of white lilac and white rose. Once open, fruity aromas come to the fore, evolving towards grilled hazelnut and almond. When the wine is more mature, the nose is surprisingly strong and fifteen minutes of aeration produce wonderful notes of white truffle, citron (cedrat), honey and nutmeg, elegantly meshed together. Very lively on the palate. Its rich texture is in evidence, but also its structure and minerality. It is round, but never heavy. Harmonious fullness in the aftertaste. This wine allies remarkably the complexity and elegance of a Bâtard-Montrachet with the power of a Corton-Charlemagne.
Vintage
The outstanding 2005 vintage actually marks the 125th anniversary of Maison Joseph Drouhin. It is also the last vintage made by Laurence Jobard. This was a unique opportunity to use the old 16th century wooden press housed in the historical cellars of Maison Joseph Drouhin. The particularity of this press is that it works very slowly: it actually took a day and a half to press all the grapes. As a result, the skins stay a longer time in contact with the juice, thereby adding richness and exceptional aromas. No modern technology was used during the vinification or the ageing. This makes these wines very different from the classic cuvées of Clos des Mouches.
Vintage reviewViticulture
Throughout its 100-hectare (247 acres) estate, Maison Joseph Drouhin has adopted organic viticulture practices since the late 1980s and biodynamic viticulture since the 1990s. Our credo is to provide « natural answers to natural problems ». All our practices show the greatest respect for the soil, the vine and the environment. Our deliberately low production yields allow our grapes to reveal the precise expression of each terroir.
Winemaking
Harvest: grapes harvested by hands in open-work crates. If necessary, a careful sorting is proceeded.
Vinification: this exclusive cuvée of Clos des Mouches was pressed on a 16th century press, in the heart of Beaune.
Using the old historic press was also a way for Maison Joseph Drouhin to express its love for Burgundy, show its respect for these ancient practices and bear witness to them for generations to come.
Ageing: the alcoholic fermentation as the malolactic and the ageing are being processed in oak barrels. The proportion of new barrels is around 20% to 25%.
The ageing lasts between 16 to 18 months.
Origin of the wood: oak grown in French high forest.
Throughout the ageing process, decisions are taken only after careful tasting evaluation. The data obtained is completed through technical analysis. As with every other Joseph Drouhin wine, absolute priority is given to the true expression of terroir and character of the vintage.