2021 Griotte-Chambertin, Grand Cru, Joseph Drouhin, Burgundy
Critics reviews
The Griotte-Chambertin has been vinified in barrels with stems in what is being called Vinification Intégrale. A fuller purple than most with a spicy, peppery nose. This has significant class, really an exciting wine and the additional freshness which the whole bunch gives, even while reducing acidity, is lovely. A light salty touch at the very end to season the little red berries.
Drink 2027 - 2035
Jasper Morris MW, InsideBurgundy.com (November 2022)
Much like the Clos Prieur, this is quite ripe in the context of the 2021 vintage with its combination of super-spicy red and dark berry fruit aromas that are cut with hints of earth, violet and lilac. The exceptionally rich and generously proportioned middleweight plus flavors exude evident minerality on the superbly long if youthfully austere finale that really fans out as it sits on the palate. Lovely and I particularly like the balance.
Drink from 2033 onward
Allen Meadows, Burghound.com (April 2023)
One of my favourites from Drouhin this year is the 2021 Griotte-Chambertin Grand Cru. Splendid and vivacious red and black fruit vie for attention on the nose, the mineralité underneath almost too easy to overlook. The palate is beautifully structured with crisp tannins, a slightly chalky texture, and a very persistent, finely sculpted finish. Impressive.
Drink 2026 - 2050
Neal Martin, Vinous.com (January 2023)
Drouhin counts themselves among the happy few who produce a wine from this tiny grand cru. They own just over a half-hectare out of 2.73 total, and their rendition is consistently among their top wines. The character is different from most of Gevrey in that the emphasis is less on the structure and tannin and more on the lush, silky fruit. Here, the aromas of ripe cherry and plum are complemented by floral notes and a suggestion of earth. This is a wine of superb finesse.
Drink 2025 - 2045
Charles Curtis MW, Decanter.com (November 2022)
About this WINE
Maison Joseph Drouhin
Located in Burgundy, France, Maison Joseph Drouhin is one of the region’s most renowned and historic wineries and has a legacy dating back to 1880 when it was founded in the town of Beaune by Joseph Drouhin.
The winery is managed by the fourth generation of the Drouhin family, who are known for their commitment to quality and tradition. The vineyards are in some of Burgundy’s most prestigious appellations, including Côte de Nuits, Côte de Beaune, Chablis, and Côte Chalonnaise.
Maison Joseph Drouhin produces many red, white, and rosé wines but is mainly known for its exceptional Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Some of their most renowned wines include Clos des Mouches, Chambertin-Clos de Bèze, Musigny, Beaune Clos des Ursules, and Chassagne-Montrachet Marquis de Laguiche.
Griotte-Chambertin
Griotte-Chambertin is a Grand Cru appellation that falls under the Côte de Nuits subregion, renowned for producing some of the world's most sought-after Pinot Noir wines.
The vineyards are situated on the gentle slopes of the Côte d'Or, where the terroir plays a significant role in shaping the character of the wines. The soils here are composed of limestone, clay, and marl, providing excellent drainage and mineral richness to the vines. The area also benefits from a continental climate, characterised by warm summers and cool autumns, ideal for ripening Pinot Noir grapes to perfection.
Griotte-Chambertin wines are celebrated for their elegance, finesse, and complexity. They typically exhibit vibrant red fruit flavours such as cherry, raspberry, and strawberry, accompanied by subtle earthy undertones and a distinctive minerality. With age, these wines develop additional layers of complexity, gaining nuances of forest floor, spice, and truffle.
Producers in Griotte-Chambertin adhere to strict winemaking traditions, often employing traditional techniques such as whole-cluster fermentation and ageing in French oak barrels to craft wines of exceptional quality and finesse.
Pinot Noir
Pinot Noir is probably the most frustrating, and at times infuriating, wine grape in the world. However when it is successful, it can produce some of the most sublime wines known to man. This thin-skinned grape which grows in small, tight bunches performs well on well-drained, deepish limestone based subsoils as are found on Burgundy's Côte d'Or.
Pinot Noir is more susceptible than other varieties to over cropping - concentration and varietal character disappear rapidly if yields are excessive and yields as little as 25hl/ha are the norm for some climats of the Côte d`Or.
Because of the thinness of the skins, Pinot Noir wines are lighter in colour, body and tannins. However the best wines have grip, complexity and an intensity of fruit seldom found in wine from other grapes. Young Pinot Noir can smell almost sweet, redolent with freshly crushed raspberries, cherries and redcurrants. When mature, the best wines develop a sensuous, silky mouth feel with the fruit flavours deepening and gamey "sous-bois" nuances emerging.
The best examples are still found in Burgundy, although Pinot Noir`s key role in Champagne should not be forgotten. It is grown throughout the world with notable success in the Carneros and Russian River Valley districts of California, and the Martinborough and Central Otago regions of New Zealand.
When is a wine ready to drink?
We provide drinking windows for all our wines. Alongside the drinking windows there is a bottle icon and a maturity stage. Bear in mind that the best time to drink a wine does also depend on your taste.
Not ready
These wines are very young. Whilst they're likely to have lots of intense flavours, their acidity or tannins may make them feel austere. Although it isn't "wrong" to drink these wines now, you are likely to miss out on a lot of complexity by not waiting for them to mature.
Ready - youthful
These wines are likely to have plenty of fruit flavours still and, for red wines, the tannins may well be quite noticeable. For those who prefer younger, fruitier wines, or if serving alongside a robust meal, these will be very enjoyable. If you choose to hold onto these wines, the fruit flavours will evolve into more savoury complexity.
Ready - at best
These wines are likely to have a beautiful balance of fruit, spice and savoury flavours. The acidity and tannins will have softened somewhat, and the wines will show plenty of complexity. For many, this is seen as the ideal time to drink and enjoy these wines. If you choose to hold onto these wines, they will become more savoury but not necessarily more complex.
Ready - mature
These wines are likely to have plenty of complexity, but the fruit flavours will have been almost completely replaced by savoury and spice notes. These wines may have a beautiful texture at this stage of maturity. There is lots to enjoy when drinking wines at this stage. Most of these wines will hold in this window for a few years, though at the very end of this drinking window, wines start to lose complexity and decline.
Buying options
Add to wishlist
Description
One of my favourites from Drouhin this year is the 2021 Griotte-Chambertin Grand Cru. Splendid and vivacious red and black fruit vie for attention on the nose, the mineralité underneath almost too easy to overlook. The palate is beautifully structured with crisp tannins, a slightly chalky texture, and a very persistent, finely sculpted finish. Impressive.
Drink 2026 - 2050
Neal Martin, Vinous.com (January 2023)
wine at a glance
Delivery and quality guarantee