Wine Tasting: Joseph Drouhin - The Reds (14th Oct 1997)
Presented by Frederic Drouhin, Beaune.
1. 1996 Drouhin Laforet Rouge
14th Oct 1997 Burgundy Table Red
Deep, bright, even, blue/red.
Fresh red berry nose with good depth.
Medium bodied with plenty of fruit, good acids and tannins and a fresh, reasonable finish.
Very young and lively - needs time to come together.
(FF364 per case, ex cellar)
2. 1996 Drouhin Rully Rouge
14th Oct 1997 Burgundy Table Red
Even, pink/red.
Initial whiff of sulphur? Intense nose of earth and dark berry fruits.
Medium bodied, earthy and complex with ripe, concentrated fruit and high acid. Good finish.
There was a fairly unpleasant 'bottle stench' which burned off quite quickly - apart from that, very pleasant.
(FF517 per case, ex cellar)
3. 1995 Drouhin Ladoix
14th Oct 1997 Burgundy Table Red
Deep, even, brick red.
Concentrated, attractive nose of mushrooms, berry fruit and liquorice.
Medium to full bodied with a rich, mouth-filling, velvety texture. Sweet berry fruits and spicy, tobacco flavours.
Excellent balance but tannins are still quite hard - needs a few years.
(FF493 per case, ex cellar)
4. 1995 Drouhin Maranges
14th Oct 1997 Burgundy Table Red
Deep, bright, even, brick red.
Still quite closed nose but starting to show intense red berry fruit - almost Italian.
Full bodied with rustic, chewy red berry flavours and good acidity. Excellent, but needs a couple of years.
(FF470 per case, ex cellar)
5. 1995 Drouhin Volnay
14th Oct 1997 Burgundy Table Red
Deep, even, blue/red to brick red at rim.
Restrained nose with some berry fruit and slight vegetal notes.
Medium bodied and more elegant in style than the Maranges. Ripe berry fruit, good acidity and a touch of oak.
Well balanced but really needs another 2 to 3 years at least.
(FF822 per case, ex cellar)
6. 1995 Drouhin Chambolle Musigny
14th Oct 1997 Burgundy Table Red
Deep, even, red to brick red - more like a claret.
Delicate and elegant nose with some soft, ripe fruit.
Medium bodied, good balance and concentration but quite an elegant, delicate style. Flavours of berry fruit, tobacco and oak and a good long finish.
(FF963 per case, ex cellar)
7. 1994 Drouhin Maranges
14th Oct 1997 Burgundy Table Red
Brick red fading to tawny - pale at rim.
Good concentration - a gamey, spicy nose.
Medium bodied with good acidity, flavours of rich game and rounded oak. Quite light on the mid-palate with a delicate finish.
Fully mature - light but lovely now.
8. 1994 Drouhin Cote de Beaune
14th Oct 1997 Burgundy Table Red
Garnet to pale tawny - mature.
Brooding, restrained but promising nose of soft fruit and oak.
Full bodied with sweet, ripe fruit, cigar boxes, a dod of barnyard and well integrated oak. Good balance of acidity and alcohol.
Lovely now but will develop for another 2 to 3 years.
(FF587 per case, ex cellar)
9. 1994 Drouhin Musigny Grand Cru
14th Oct 1997 Burgundy Table Red
Deep red to tawny.
Concentrated and complex nose of berries, tobacco and barnyard.
Full bodied with sweet berry fruit and truffles, soft, smooth texture with excellent balance of oak and acidity.
A sensual, voluptuous wine - superb.
(FF2643 per case, ex cellar)