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This sampling of Drouhin’s 2022 whites and that of the 2022 reds that will be in my subsequent post provide yet evidence of the great success of the 2022 vintage. I hope to be able to taste more of Drouhin’s 2022’s later this autumn.
At the opening level, there are good wines that should not cause the shock of the prices for prestige vineyards in white Burgundy. Further down, the prices will undoubtedly be higher because of limited supply and increasing demand, but the quality is there.
2022 Pouilly-Vinzelles
This wine is from 12 ha that Drouhin has contract with the Château de Vinzelles. One-third of the wine is vinified in 500-liter barrels, the rest in stainless steel. There is a light floral nose, specifically apple blossoms. The mouth is light on the palate, elegant, and floral with roundness and good acidity for a Pouilly. Just a touch of burn on the finish prevents me from rating the wine even higher. (87-89)
2022 Rully
This is a wine of richness with yellow fruits, silkiness, length, and elegance. Raised in 500-liter barrels, about 5-10% new. (87-89)
2022 Saint-Romain
Most, but not all, of this wine is from fruit purchased from Rapet, whose Saint-Romain (and a little in Auxey, Meursault, and Pommard) vines Drouhin subsequently purchased this past spring. The nose here is floral; the mouth is crisp, mineral, and pure with medium weight, good density, freshness, and light vanilla overtones. (89-91)
2022 Chablis Grand Cru Les Clos
The Chablis Grand Cru Les Clos is dense and rich with good acidity, plenty of freshness, length, and typical steeliness. Fermented in 500-liter oak barrels, but none new. As with Drouhin’s other Chablis wines, the label is Drouhin-Vaudon. (92-94)
2022 Meursault 1er Cru Genevrières
This is great Genevrières (my personal favorite vineyard in Meursault). The nose has the floral/butter nose that is particular to Genevrières. The mouth is pure and succulent with white flowers, a hint of peach, length, complexity, and completeness. (94-96)
2022 Chassagne-Montrachet 1er Cru Morgeot Marquis de Laguiche
Just a step behind the Genevrières in quality is the Chassagne-Morgeot, which comes from the Grand Clos and Vigne Blanche climats. The nose is round, intense, and dense with incipient honeysuckle. The mouth has peach fruit with depth, juiciness, chewiness, and structure. (93-95)
2022 Beaune 1er Cru Clos des Mouches
As with the Laguiche Chassagne-Morgeot, this is one of Drouhin’s flagship wines. The nose is floral and perfumed and here, too, honeysuckle makes its appearance. The mouth is dense, intense, round, pure, and rich with golden fruit. (93-96)