2014 Maison Joseph Drouhin Chambolle-Musigny

(these village wines are aged in around 25% oak): Bright, pale red. Aromas of raspberry, spices, rose petal and menthol. Juicy, lightly saline and elegant, showing good delicacy but also sneaky intensity to it red fruit flavors. Nicely delineated Chambolle with fine tannins and good length. Véronique Drouhin told me that her family usually supplies the barrels to their clients from whom they purchase wine.

The 2014 Chambolle-Musigny Village has a simple blackcurrant pastille-scented nose. The palate is balanced by just missing the roundness and the sensuality one seeks in Chambolle. It feels a little static and needs to display more Chambolle typicity, a wine that needs to wake up!

Mostly bought-in fruit. Best of the villages in Beaune this year, according to Véronique Drouhin. 16 months in oak. Mid to light crimson. Already showing some complexity in the aroma here – perfumed with red fruit and also a hint of dark fruit and spice. Fine, dry texture, fragrant on the palate too, with the tannins pulling everything in to a neat finish. (JH)