Winemaker Notes
The 2018 Joseph Drouhin Beaune 1er Cru "Grèves" Rouge is a beautifully expressive, pure, and texturally complete Pinot Noir that highlights the concentration of a warm, solar vintage while maintaining classic Burgundy elegance. In the glass, it displays an intense, brilliant purplish-cherry red color. The bouquet is strikingly open and aromatic, weaving together ripe aromas of black raspberry, dark cherry, and wild currant with delicate floral notes of violets, all framed by hints of sweet oak spice, autumn leaf, and a faint touch of smoky tobacco. On the palate, the wine delivers a full-bodied, generous mouthfeel characterized by an incredibly smooth, caressing, and velvety texture packed with dense, juicy red and black fruits. While the vintage brings a natural richness and a supple roundness to the mid-palate, it is kept impeccably balanced by a surprising vein of fresh acidity and structured around fine, youthfully taut tannins that prevent any sense of heaviness. The finish is remarkably persistent and classy, leaving a lingering impression of crème de cassis, exotic five-spice, and a fine dust of earthy minerals, making this a highly rewarding Beaune Premier Cru that is deliciously approachable now but possesses the structure to evolve gracefully in the cellar for the next decade.
About Winery
Maison Joseph Drouhin was founded in 1880 in Beaune, Burgundy, by Joseph Drouhin, and has since grown into one of the region’s most respected wine producers. Over the generations, the family expanded its holdings to include vineyards across Burgundy—such as Chablis, Côte de Nuits, Côte de Beaune, and Côte Chalonnaise—and later established Domaine Drouhin Oregon in the Willamette Valley. Today, the estate remains family-run by Joseph’s great-grandchildren, who continue the tradition of producing elegant wines with a focus on terroir and sustainable practices, including organic certification for their Burgundy vineyards since 2009
