Wines Beaune Joseph Drouhin - Clos des Mouches - 2020

Viniou Reviews

Joseph Drouhin's 2020 Beaune Premier Cru Clos des Mouches Blanc is a distinguished white Burgundy showcasing the best qualities of Chardonnay from a historic terroir. The Clos des Mouches vineyard, one of Beaune’s most celebrated Premier Crus, lies on a gently sloping hillside with soils dominated by limestone and marl, ideal for Chardonnay’s finesse and minerality. In 2020, a year marked by sunshine and low yields, the grapes achieved an exceptional ripeness balanced by fresh acidity. The wine undergoes traditional Burgundian vinification: gentle pressing, fermentation in oak barrels (with a moderate proportion of new oak), and ageing on lees to build texture and complexity. The result is a nuanced wine offering aromas of white flowers, ripe orchard fruit, honey, subtle hazelnut and an underpinning stony minerality.

The Côte de Beaune, the southern part of Burgundy’s prestigious Côte d’Or, is synonymous with the world’s greatest Chardonnay. The climate is semi-continental, bringing warm days, cool nights and a long, slow ripening season. This preserves acidity and aromatic precision while allowing sugars and flavours to concentrate. The limestone-rich soils promote mineral expression and tension in the wines. Beaune itself is a town with deep winemaking roots stretching back to Roman times, now renowned for its network of exceptional Premier Cru vineyards such as Clos des Mouches, which has been carefully tended by the Drouhin family since the 1920s.

For food pairings, this elegant yet structured white Burgundy excels with dishes that echo its richness and subtlety. Try it with poultry in creamy mushroom sauce, pan-seared scallops, or a classic Bresse chicken. It pairs beautifully with regional dishes like jambon persillé or Burgundy snails with herb butter. For cheese, a mild Comté or young goat’s cheese would be delightful.

To enjoy the wine at its best, serve chilled but not too cold, ideally between 12-14°C. This allows the aromatic complexity and creamy texture to express themselves fully. Decanting for 30 minutes can also help unlock its layers, especially while the wine is young.