Overview
Clos des Mouches Blanc is one of Maison Joseph Drouhin's historic Premier Cru wines, produced from Chardonnay at the southern end of the Beaune appellation, next to Pommard. The Drouhin vineyard lies mid-slope on a gentle east/south-east-facing incline and forms the largest holding within the 14-hectare Clos des Mouches. The 2023 vintage combines richness and structure with freshness, minerality and finesse.
Vineyard
Clos des Mouches was one of the first vineyards acquired by Maurice Drouhin in the 1920s, assembled from 41 parcels purchased from eight proprietors. The name recalls the beehives once found in this sun-drenched clos, where bees were known locally as “mouches à miel”, or honey flies.
The vineyard is planted equally to Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. Drouhin's Chardonnay parcel covers 6.82 hectares, with vines averaging 45 years of age. The soils are clay and limestone, with rocky ground in the upper section and limestone and marl through the centre.
Vintage
2023 was one of the hottest years in Burgundy, surpassing even 2022. The grapes reached perfect maturity, producing highly aromatic wines with yellow-fruit and floral notes. The palate is ample and full-bodied, combining generosity with freshness and finesse.
Viticulture & Winemaking
Maison Joseph Drouhin has practised organic viticulture across its estate since the late 1980s and biodynamic viticulture since the 1990s. The grapes are harvested by hand in open-work crates and carefully sorted when necessary. Whole bunches undergo slow pneumatic pressing, with the final press juice separated from the free-run juice. Following light settling, alcoholic and malolactic fermentation take place in oak barrels.
The wine is aged for 16–18 months in French oak barrels, approximately 20–25% new.
Producer Tasting Notes
Véronique Boss-Drouhin: “An outstanding wine. Pale yellow colour. Complex floral nose of white lilac and white rose. Once open, fruity aromas come to the fore, evolving towards grilled hazelnut and almond. … Very lively on the palate. Its rich texture is in evidence, but also its structure and minerality. It is round, but never heavy. Harmonious fullness in the aftertaste.”
Critic Reviews
95/100 — Tim Atkin MW
Tasted October 2024
92–95/100 — Jasper Morris, Inside Burgundy
Tasted November 2024
92/100 — Wine Spectator
Tasted November 2025
Specifications
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Vintage: 2023
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Grape Variety: Chardonnay
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Region: Clos des Mouches, Beaune, Côte de Beaune, Burgundy, France
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Classification: Beaune Premier Cru
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Alcohol: 13.5%
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Sweetness: Dry
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Production Attributes: Hand harvested; organic and biodynamic viticulture
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Fermentation: Alcoholic and malolactic fermentation in oak barrels
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Maturation: 16–18 months
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Oak Type: French oak, approximately 20–25% new
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Drinking Window: 2025–2040
