(Please see my overall view of the 2018 vintage in the Côte d’ Or here.)
Harvesting on the Côte de Beaune began with the Corton-Charlemagne on 29 August and largely was finished on the Côte de Beaune by 6 September. The best whole clusters were selected, making the wines generally 25-50% whole clusters. Pumping over generally was used instead of punching down, and macerations lasted between 15 and 21 days. There was no acidification of the reds except maybe the press wine (which was largely not used, so essentially no acidification). Alcohols generally range between 12.5º and 14.3º.
2018 Rully
Smooth texture, medium-weight, round tannins, good length, easy, uncomplicated. (86-88)
2018 Chorey-lès-Beaune
Dark fruits with some red in the nose. Mouth is smooth, shows good depth, moderate acidity, dark fruits. A wine for immediate pleasure. (88-90)
2018 Savigny-lès-Beaune Clos des Godeaux
Spicy cherry nose. Dark cherry mouth, round, sensual, good depth. (89-91)
2018 Savigny-lès-Beaune 1er Cru Fourneaux
Closed nose. Dark cherries in mouth, smooth, good depth. (89-92)
2018 Côte de Beaune
Not to be confused with Côte de Beaune-Villages. Quite a bit of declassified Beaune 1er Cru in this wine. Cassis aromas. Smooth texture, light on palate, intense, fresh, saline, elegant. 92/A
2018 Beaune 1er Cru Cras
Round in mouth, sweetness from red and dark cherry fruits, some salinity. Light but intense. (91-93)
2018 Beaune 1er Cru Grèves
Lovely layered falling across the tongue, dark fruits. (91-94)
2018 Beaune 1er Cru Clos des Mouches
Easily the best 2018 Drouhin red on either Côte that I tasted. Spicy dark fruit nose. Dark fruits in mouth, pure, sensual, long, saline. A little atypical for its sensuality -- Clos des Mouches, especially young, can show lots of structure. 25% whole clusters, about 13.4-5º alcohol. (94-97)
2018 Corton
Very ripe fruit in nose. Spicy dark fruits in mouth that are very ripe. Slight chalkiness. Smooth texture. This is not an estate wine; fruit is from Renardes and Hautes Mourottes climates. 30% whole clusters. (92-94)