Maison Joseph Drouhin celebrates its 140th anniversary

The iconic Burgundy Maison Joseph Drouhin celebrates its 140th anniversary.

The Joseph Drouhin Domaine is one of the largest estates in Burgundy. It owns vineyards in all of Burgundy: Chablis, Côte de Nuits and Côte de Beaune, Côte Chalonnaise. It is comprised of a majority of Premier and Grand Crus. Some vineyards are among the most famous in Burgundy, such as Clos des Mouches, Montrachet Marquis de Laguiche, Musigny, Clos de Vougeot, Corton-Charlemagne…
Drouhin family also owns an estate in Oregon (USA) planted with the two Burgundian grape varietals, pinot noir and chardonnay.

Chablis steps up sustainability focus with new methanation system

The Chablis Winegrowers Union (FDAC) has embarked on a €4.8 million project to implement a new methanation system in a bid to improve sustainable practices across the region.

Described as a “breakthrough in the move to enhance sustainability in the wine making process”, the new methanisation processing area will be located in the South of Chablis where 700 winemakers, belonging to the FDAC, will be able to bring the by-products of wine making to be processed in the system.
The grape pomace will be passed through a machine to separate any seeds, which research found unsuitable for the process. These will instead be set aside for alternative uses such as cosmetics.
The remaining wine pomace will then be placed in covered silos where the fermentation process begins; then finally into the methanisation machine.
The biogas produced by the machine will then be directly injected into the Gaz Réseau Distribution France (GRDF) circuits – the natural gas distribution network in France. With no element of the process wasted, the remaining product left in the machine will be sold as fertiliser.
The project made Chablis one of the first wine regions to put in place a methanation process of “this kind and on this scale”, said Louis Moreau, president of the BIVB Chablis.
“Sustainability is a key focus for Chablis and the rest of Bourgogne so our winemakers are always looking at new innovations on both small and large scale projects.
“We believe the new system will be a success and with a younger generation of winemakers who have travelled the world for their studies and then come home to Chablis, we will work hand in hand with them to bring in new practices to protect the environment and our terroir.”
The new system, which is jointly funded by the FDAC,the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development and subsidies from the local region, follows several research studies to test the feasibility of the project, including a six-month study in Belgium using a ‘pilot’ system with wine by-products brought over from Chablis to find the most efficient method of methanation.
With the project already underway, the system is expected to be up and running by Autumn 2021.

An article from Harpers by Lisa Riley
https://harpers.co.uk/news/fullstory.php/aid/25067/Chablis_steps_up_sustainability_focus_with_new_methanation_system.html

Tell me your Chinese Zodiac sign, I will tell you your Bourgogne wines

 The Rat

The Rat is the smallest of the 12 animals featured in the Zodiac cycle. It is nocturnal, acute, charming and versatile. The Petit Chablis is most appropriate to be likened to the Rat. Petit Chablis charms the nose with aromas of white blossom, citrus fruit and sometimes peach, and delights the palate with zesty and light sensation, while a roundedness balances the vibrant acidity, leaving the palate with a lasting impression. This may be Chablis’s ‘baby’ sister appellation, but it is not a ‘petit’ wine at all.

  The Ox

The Ox symbolizes diligence, dependability, strength and determination. It is treasured for its honest and steadfast nature. The red wine from Mercurey, one of the five Village appellations of the Côte Chalonnaise, aptly embodies these bovine characters in its rich, sturdy and meaty style, showing sometimes unyielding tannins in youth and rewarding lengthy cellaring allowing the tannins to become more rounded.

 The Tiger

The Tiger is brave, competitive, unpredictable, and self-confident. What better to compare with the Tiger than the Pernand-Vergelesses Village appellation from the Côte de Beaune. The white wine of Pernand-Vergelesses displays confident upbringing, sharing some of the noble traits of neighbouring Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru, with linear tension in youth, developing mineral-laden complexity with age. In red, Pernand-Vergelesses is fleshy and robust, confident in its balance, freshness and well-groomed structure, making it a fine and earlier-drinking alternative to nearby Corton Grand Cru that typically takes patience to reach its pinnacle.

 The Rabbit

Tame and gentle it may be, the Rabbit is a popular animal. People born in the year of the Rabbit display compassionate and sincere characters, and they thrive in the company of friends and family. Pouilly-Fuissé, a Village appellation from the Mâconnais is the most convivial of Bourgogne’s appellations. Elegant and full of charm, Pouilly-Fuissé entices with layered notes of hazelnut, almond, citrus, acacia, buttered brioche and honey, and an opulent texture and full-bodied structure. It is a straightforward, yet rich and complex wine, to accompany a diversity of cuisines and dishes.

 The Dragon

The Dragon is the most powerful animal in the Zodiac range. The village of Morey-Saint-Denis in the Côte de Nuits could easily earn the enviable nickname of “Crête du Dragon” or the Dragon’s crest by counting 20 Premier Cru Climats and five Grand Cru appellations in the hillside above the village: Clos de la Roche, Clos Saint-Denis, Clos de Tart, Clos des Lambrays and sharing the Bonnes Mares appellation with Chambolle-Musigny. Stylistically, the red Morey-Saint-Denis Village appellation forms the bridge between Gevrey-Chambertin and Chambolle-Musigny, it is masculine, full and powerful in the mouth and marries well with game and meat dishes with intense flavours.

 The Snake

The Snake is enigmatic, intelligent and wise. Being the only Village appellation in Bourgogne that can appear in three colours – white, red and rosé, Marsannay delivers diversity and quality. It shares the sturdiness of neighbouring Fixin and the regal structure of Gevrey-Chambertin in the Côte de Nuits. Red Marsannay is powerful and generous on the palate, leading to a long meaty finish.

 The Horse

The free-roaming Horse is self-sufficient and energetic. The Chablis Premier Cru encompasses 40 different Climats across the two banks of River Serein, each with its unique typicity, depending on exposure and soil. Chablis Premier Cru can be tight and mineral or flowery and opulent in youth, depending on the Climat. It beguiles the wine-lover with its multitude of personalities.

 The Goat

The Goat treasures solitary moments to develop its creative thoughts. Similarly, Saint-Véran does not overwhelm the taster with opulent notes. This white wine appellation from the Mâconnais is fresh, full-bodied and luscious but dry and well-fruited, with good concentration backed by sufficient acidity. Perfect as an aperitif drink, but it can also stand up to pairing with creamy poultry or seafood dishes, thanks to its lively acidity.

 The Monkey

The Monkey is witty, energetic and active, if sometimes lacking a little discipline. The Chablis Grand Cru is a worthy pairing companion with the Monkey. Jewel in the Crown for the Chablis range, the Chablis Grand Cru is a single appellation with seven different Climats emcompassing its multiple personalities. It can be firm and powerful like Les Clos or soft and rounded like Les Preuses.

The Rooster

The Rooster is observant, resourceful, honest and conservative. The Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru appellation from the Hill of Corton does not reveal all its promises in youth. It waits and takes a long and measured pace to achieve maturity, delivering its full power, complexity and long finish. It rewards the taster with the perfect balance between rounded opulence and remarkable acidity. Corton-Charlemagne is an astonishing demonstration of what the Chardonnay grape is capable of in terms of richness, power, concentration, distinction and balance. It epitomizes the perfect synthesis between grape variety and terroir which is so unique in Bourgogne.

 The Dog

The Dog is man’s best friend. It is loyal and honest, amiable and kind, cautious and prudent. Chablis is the perfect accompaniment to any form of gathering or dish. A good Chablis is never overpowering but lends its freshness, subtle complexity and structure to accompany dishes from international cuisines. Who doesn’t love Chablis and Oysters?  And why not try dim sums or sushi with Chablis? The Chablis brandname alone stands for honesty, reliability and quality.  In the hands of Chablis’s capable producers who have worked relentlessly to promote this world-famous brand, it never fails to deliver a readily recognizable style.

The Pig

Finally, the Pig is diligent, generous and compassionate. People born in the Year of the Pig enjoy finer things but are never perceived as snobs. They are diligent, always in search of more knowledge. Beaune Premiers Crus are generous and fleshy, showing great aromatic power and solid texture, in both red and white colours, making them very respectable dinner companions.

An article from Bourgogne Wine Board (BIVB)
http://www.bourgogne-wines.com/news/latest-news/tell-me-your-chinese-zodiac-sign-i-will-tell-you-your-bourgogne-wines,2536,10366.html?&args=Y29tcF9pZD0xODY3JmFjdGlvbj12aWV3RGV0YWlsJmlkPTE0NiZ8

Key figures for the Bourgogne winegrowing region

An article from Bourgogne Wine Board (BIVB)
http://www.bourgogne-wines.com/news/latest-news/key-figures-for-the-bourgogne-winegrowing-region,2536,10366.html?&args=Y29tcF9pZD0xODY3JmFjdGlvbj12aWV3RGV0YWlsJmlkPTg4Jnw%3D

Burgundy 2017 : an early vintage ?

No two years are the same in the Bourgogne winegrowing region. After fast flowering, which was over by mid-June, even in those areas that tend to tardiness, any fears about springtime frosts were soon a distant memory. Now hopes are high for a fabulous harvest.
Even the Chablis region, which suffered the effects of frost at the end of April, is in a much better place than it was at this time in 2016.
Flowering is finished across the Bourgogne region, with only a few days required for the vines to move from first flowers to producing fruit.
With favorable weather conditions, sunshine and heat alternating with short spring showers, the vines were left to follow their growth cycle at a good pace, without hindrance.
On average, flowering reached mid-point by the first week in June. On the Côte de Beaune, flowering started on 31 May for the Chardonnay and 1 June for the Pinot Noir, soon followed by all other regions. The further north the vines, the earlier they flowered, compared to the average for the period 1994-2016.
In the Mâconnais, flowering mid-point was reached between 3-5 days earlier, while in the
Grand Auxerrois and Chablis, it was eight days.
The 2017 vintage is therefore gradually emerging as an early one. It is ranked among the top three earliest years on the Côte de Beaune and Côte de Nuits, similar to the 2009 vintage. The nascent grapes are already between 3-5mm across and the bunches should be closed by early July if the weather continues to be fine.
With optimum weather conditions keeping the grapes healthy, the Bourgogne winegrowing region is thus heading for a lovely harvest. In Chablis, things are more mixed. Although globally, things are looking promising, there are a few areas where the grapes are lacking, mainly in the Petit Chablis appellation, and on a few plots of Chablis.
But despite the reigning optimism, it is preferable to be prudent until harvesting is complete, with picking predicted to start in early September.

An article from Bourgogne Wine Board (BIVB)
http://www.bourgogne-wines.com/news/latest-news/2017-an-early-vintage,2536,10366.html?&args=Y29tcF9pZD0xODY3JmFjdGlvbj12aWV3RGV0YWlsJmlkPTE1OCZ8

French wine harvest 2017 set for ‘historic low’ after frost

French wine production from the 2017 harvest will fall to historic lows due to damage from spring frosts, officials have estimated.
Production from France’s 2017 wine harvest may fall by 17 percent to between 37 million hectolitres (4.9bn bottles) and 38.2 million hectolitres, versus 45.5 million in 2016, the country’s ministry of agriculture said.
Frost and hail are largely to blame.
This would be a ‘historic low’, said the ministry – 16% lower than the five-year average and worse than 1991, a vintage also hit hard by frost.
Such a drop could mean that wines from some areas become harder to find, and so more expensive. It is the second successive year that frost has struck hard in some areas.
Bordeaux 2017 production could be ‘strongly impacted’ by spring frosts with a 50% fall in production versus 2016, said the report. The Right Bank was hit harder. Many top estates had the resources to employ frost avoidance techniques, even flying helicopters over vines to circulate the air.
However, flowering went well. ‘Vines are two or three weeks ahead versus the average growing season,’ said Thomas Duclos, of Oenoteam in Libourne, on the Right Bank.
‘Veraison [ripening] started at the beginning of July,’ said Vincent Bache-Gabrielsen, winemaker of Château Pédesclaud in Pauillac. ‘Everything looks good.’
The Champagne harvest was expected to rise by 8 percent in 2017, but still 9 percent below the 2012-2016 average. The growing season was running 10 days ahead of 2016.
In Burgundy and Beaujolais, a good flowering period means production will rise by 14 percent versus a small 2016 crop, official said
But frost badly damaged parts of Chablis and the Côte de Nuits, and hailstorms devastated parts of Fleurie and other Beaujolais Crus.
In Alsace, frost means 30% lower production than in 2016, with early budding variety Gewurztraminer hit hardest.
At flowering, there was ‘a lot of coulure [poor fruit set] among Riesling grapes’, Celine Meyer, CEO of Domaine Josmeyer, told Decanter.com. ‘Pinot Gris are perfect for the moment,’ she added, but there was concern at low water levels.
In Languedoc-Roussillon, severe frost affected both the Aude and Hérault areas. Production is set to fall by 6%.
Coulure has been a particular problem for Grenache in Languedoc and also in Provence and the Southern Rhône Valley, which have also had problems with powdery mildew.
In the Loire, frost has cut production by 10% to 40% in some places. But, overall, the region’s growers are set to pick 15 days earlier than average and production will rise by 7 percent versus 2016, which was also hit by frost.
Hot early summer weather means that the growing season across France was running between 10 and 20 days ahead of normal, which may help surviving grapes to ripen fully.

An article from Decanter by Yohan Castaing
http://www.decanter.com/wine-news/french-wine-harvest-2017-373091-373091/