Joseph Drouhin : Vosne-Romanée 1er cru "Les Petits Monts" 2023

Characteristics and tasting notes of the Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru "Les Petits Monts" 2023 Joseph Drouhin

Tasting

Colour
This red wine reveals a deep, intense ruby hue, enhanced by brilliant highlights that reflect its lovely concentration.

Nose
Wonderfully complex, the bouquet opens with characteristic morello cherry aromas, mingled with delicate spicy notes. Subtle hints of musk, nutmeg and camphor wood intertwine with fine leathery nuances, promising truffle scents as the years go by.

Palate
The attack is silky in texture, introducing refined, elegant tannins. A lovely acidity preserves the wine's overall freshness, perfectly balancing a fleshy mid-palate. The finish stands out for its remarkable length and harmonious richness.

Food and wine pairing

This vintage pairs wonderfully with noble poultry such as Bresse chicken, or roast duck served with a red berry sauce. It also enhances delicate meats such as veal or venison, as well as autumnal dishes like wild mushroom risotto. As for cheese, opt for soft, creamy varieties such as Brillat-Savarin, Cîteaux or Saint-Nectaire.

Service and storage

To fully appreciate the Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru "Les Petits Monts" 2023, it is recommended to serve it at 16°C, allowing it to breathe for about thirty minutes before tasting. Built for aging, this wine can be kept and enjoyed until around 2048.

Elegance and biodynamics at the heart of Burgundy

The estate

Founded in 1880, the House of Joseph Drouhin is an essential institution in Burgundy. Now led by the fourth generation, with Frédéric Drouhin as president alongside Véronique, Philippe and Laurent, the estate oversees a vast vineyard of around 100 hectares in France and 100 hectares in Oregon. A pioneer of sustainable viticulture, the estate converted all of its land to organic and then biodynamic farming as early as the late 1980s. This respectful approach allows the purest expression of each Burgundian terroir to shine through.

The vineyard

The Climat Les Petits Monts is a 3.63-hectare gem located on the heights of the Vosne-Romanée appellation. Overlooking legendary plots, this high-altitude terroir benefits from an ideal east-southeast exposure, offering gentle morning sunlight. The vines thrive on particularly stony, shallow clay-limestone soils, which demand meticulous work but promote excellent drainage and great finesse.

The vintage

2023 ranks among the warmest seasons recorded in the region in recent years. Following a generally calm growing cycle, marked by even flowering and abundant rainfall, a significant heatwave swept through in late August and early September. Harvest began in mid-September, just after some welcome rain, yielding a particularly generous crop that required green harvesting to regulate yields.

Winemaking and aging

The grapes destined for the Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru "Les Petits Monts" 2023 are hand-harvested in small perforated crates. Fermentation is triggered by indigenous yeasts in small open vats, incorporating a proportion of whole clusters ranging from 20 to 50%. Over two to three weeks, punching down and pumping over punctuate the maceration before vertical pressing. The wine is then aged for fourteen to eighteen months in French oak barrels, around a quarter of which are new, in order to preserve the authenticity of the terroir.

Grape variety

100% Pinot Noir.