Harvesting began on the Côte de Beaune on 1 September, and on the Côte Chalonnaise on 4 September. There were some problems with worms eating buds, but still the quantities produced were good, so the worms may have helped to keep quantities from being overly abundant.
Drouhin used more whole clusters than usual for the top wines; Drouhin’s usage is a sandwich method where the clusters are on top and bottom, with destemmed grapes between. Bruno Clavelier does something similar.
Malolactic fermentations began in the winter and sometimes went quite rapidly.
2017 Rully
The Rully is from a combination of estate and purchased fruit. The nose and mouth show strawberry fruit, and the wine is medium-light with lots of charm. (89-91)
2017 Chorey-les-Beaune
Always a good wine for not much money, the Chorey-les-Beaune has red fruits, especially red currants, and more body than the Rully. The wine has a smooth texture. Like the Rully, this wine is from a combination of purchased and estate fruit. (89-91)
2017 Savigny-les-Beaune Clos des Godeaux
This wine shows excellent concentration with a smooth texture that rolls off the tongue. The acidity seems moderate but sufficient, and the wine features strawberry fruit typical of Savigny. This is an estate wine. 90/A
2017 Savigny-les-Beaune 1er Cru Aux Guettes
This is a new wine in the Drouhin line-up, made from purchased grapes. Harvesting was rather late, and total production is about 15 barrels (4500 bottles). The wine is mineral, salty, intense, and penetrating with red fruits, especially raspberry. The wine is smooth, pure, and deep. 92/A
2017 Beaune 1er Cru Cras
Harvesting was on 5 and 6 September. 25% whole clusters here. The nose is still closed from the bottling. The mouth shows raspberry fruit with glints of dark fruit. The wine falls on the tongue and is ripe, generous, long juicy, and precise. The wine has some structure to support aging. 92+/A
2017 Beaune 1er Cru Grèves
The Beaune-Grèves has a sweetness from its red and dark cherry fruit. The wine is medium-weight, smooth, and round. Although less well-known than the flagship Beaune-Clos des Mouches, Drouhin always produces an excellent Beaune-Grèves. This is an estate wine. (91-93)
2017 Beaune 1er Cru Sizies
The Beaune-Sizies is part of an estate that Drouhin purchased from a longtime supplier. The attractive stony nose precedes a body that is smooth and round with good density of fruit, and the wine has concentration. The red and black cherry fruit are complemented by the minerality here. 13.5% stated alcohol. 92/A
2017 Beaune 1er Cru Clos des Mouches
Add this to the long line of great Beaune-Clos des Mouches. The nose features floral red fruits. The mouth is pure and long with floral red cherries. The wine is medium-light on the palate with length and purity. There is a strong resemblance to Amoureuses here for the finesse and the red fruits. The grapes were picked on five occasions between 4 and 7 September. 25-30% whole clusters here. This is an estate wine, of course. (94-96)
2017 Corton
This wine is made from purchased grapes, some in the Hautes Mourottes climat, but lots in the Renardes climat. The wine shows excellent freshness and acidity with darker fruit. As expected from Corton, there’s more power here, but also elegance to go with spiciness, purity, and some juiciness/sapiness to the texture. There is a high percentage of whole clusters in this wine. (94-96)