Open mike for next week: Any Drouhin Cru Bojo

[Otto]

I'll soon be drinking a Moulin-à-Vent 2004 from Drouhin (who rocks, BTW). Any interest in sharing a delightful Cru, maybe even from the same year, with me?

-O-

[Robin Garr]

Sounds good to me, Otto! I think I may already have one at home, although it may be older (we're in Florida this weekend, and so I can't easily look).

We're still working out the mechanics of Open Mike, and this is the first time it has come up on the Wine Focus side. Perhaps we could mention it on the WLDG forum as well, but encourage folks to post their actual TNs on this thread?

[Bob Parsons Alberta]

I'll soon be drinking a Moulin-à-Vent 2004 from Drouhin (who rocks, BTW). Any interest in sharing a delightful Cru, maybe even from the same year, with me?

-O-

Sounds good to me Otto. Could be a problem with Drouhin but I will track down a Moulin-a-Vent somewhere!! Bollyjolly time.

[Carl Eppig]

Even his '03 Villages was lovely and not over the top as were many others.

[Jenise]

Otto, I'd love to, if I come across a bottle in time.

But say, guess what I found? Musar blanc. I have never even laid eyes on a bottle before.

Yesterday while out on errands, I stopped to hug my favorite Lebanese shopkeeper and share some tears with her over what is happening in her country. She had talked to her uncle in Lebanon just yesterday morning--he is safe but distraught. He farms cucumbers for the Lebanese pickle called "metti" (that's phoenetic, I don't know how it's spelled) and he counts on being able to live for three seasons on the money he makes in summer. He has no one to pick, no one to buy.

Anyway she had the 97 white. All her 97 reds were gone, but she still has 95 and now has some 98 (real cheap for the latter--$25). Have you had the 98? I bought several of each.

Have you heard from your friends?



As a show of solidarity, I bought the whites and several of both reds. She had just talked to her uncle in Lebanon yesterday morning.

[Otto]

All, happy to see that the idea is getting a bit of favour - I've understood that Drouhin isn't for some reason highly regarded (at least in Finland), but I try to make people see their greatness!

Perhaps we could mention it on the WLDG forum as well, but encourage folks to post their actual TNs on this thread?

Righto Robin! I'll go post on the other side as well.

Anyway she had the 97 white. All her 97 reds were gone, but she still has 95 and now has some 98 (real cheap for the latter--$25). Have you had the 98? I bought several of each.

Have you heard from your friends?

As a show of solidarity, I bought the whites and several of both reds. She had just talked to her uncle in Lebanon yesterday morning.

95 rocks! The 98 is fun now and is a good but not great Musar. The white 97 is ok, but I think eclipsed by 96 and 98 (though I'll admit it was closed when I tried it, so I might come to a different conclusion when I get a bottle that has been decanted long enough to open up well). Good prices. Try a 98 red now and let us know how you like it!

I've heard from most, but not all. So far they've been well - considering the circumstances, of course.

-O-

[Bob Parsons Alberta]

Drouhin crus are allocated over here but I have a heads up on the Bollyjolly Villages so will go with that for now but am hot on the trail for the M-a Vent!!

[Ian Sutton]

Sorry, no Bojos in our stash at the moment, but a good choice for the format. Hope you get some good ones.

[Bob Parsons Alberta]

Found a Villages in 375 ml bottle, $10.00 Cdn. But on the lookout for the M-a-Vent!!

*** OK, have a Morgon coming from Calgary c/o the rep!!

[Bob Parsons Alberta]

Otto, some forumites are doing ESJ this weekend, which is great but none in this part of the world. My suggestion is to go ahead here with Drouhin this weekend as I am geared up with some wines. Do it here, as we are tasting Gamay. What do you think?

Bob P

[Robin Garr]

Otto, some forumites are doing ESJ this weekend, which is great but none in this part of the world. My suggestion is to go ahead here with Drouhin this weekend as I am geared up with some wines. Do it here, as we are tasting Gamay. What do you think?

Works for me, Bob! I've got a Drouhin Cru Beaujolais here ...

[Otto]

Drouhin Moulin-à-Vent 2004

I went ahead and opened it, because it seemed like the right thing to do. Though I have a bit of a cold and I shouldn't be drinking wine because of it, I had a friend over and a meaty stew (kind of like Boeuf Bourguignon) ready so I thought I'd open it anyway.

The nose has a touch of the peach youghurt that I don't like but otherwise is true Moulin with its meaty and even bloody notes. But what is that peach youghurt? It's always been a scent I've associated with malo + oak! Also, I've drunk this wine a couple times before and hadn't noticed it, so I guess it's just my sinuses and my scare for all oaky things playing tricks with me. (Aisopos (Aesop for those who prefer Anglicised version of Greek names) lesson: never drink wine with a cold!)

The palate is all one would have expected. The faintest traces of 2004's tartness are fading and the raspberry fruit and earth and fine acidity are coming to the fore. Fine balance but perhaps could do with a few more years aging. Nice stuff, I'm enjoying it despite the cold.

-O-

[Bob Parsons Alberta]

Hope you will survive!! Yup, ready for Open Mike 2 here this weekend on this side. There is going to be a lot of action on this forum this weekend!! No ESJ in Alberta/no agency Steve says. I am trying to get him to post some notes on his Gamay but he is not keen for obvious reasons. I will try again!
My Morgan is here (Drouhin) from Calgary so ready to go.

[Bob Parsons Alberta]

Drouhin-The `03 Beaujolais Villages.

Thanks Otto for letting us try some Drouhin as we plough thro` the other Bollyjolly. I am eagerly awaiting a chance to try the Morgon!

This was a half-bottle, slightly chilled, 12.5% alc.

Colour. Light purple transparent, not much intensity in the centre. Thin watery rim typical.

Nose. Raspberry and some initial funky tones that blow off quickly. Nice young simple Gamay but not much cherry here, found bubblegum and strawberry. Violets as it warms and more red berry.

Palate. Initial mouthfeel is nice fruits, raspberry and zippy. Good fruit balance and nice acids. Not overly jammy, silky, grapey. Found some mellow tannins and think just what to expect from a Villages.

Cost was $10 Cdn(half).

[Carl Eppig]

Told you their '03 wasn't over the top as many others wert. Look for a 750, you won't be disappointed.

[James Roscoe]

The only Drouhin listed on the webste for my BAWS is a 1998. It's $16.99. Should I go for it?

The website is not always reliable, but the thought of eight year old bojo does wet the appettite.

[Otto]

I guess it's too early to drink 04s though the tartness is disappearing already: this bottle needed a day open to open up beautifully: earth and cigar aromas are emerging and all seems so harmonious. What a lovely drink.

It seems Drouhin doesn't put a foot wrong ever. Has anyone ever tasted anything bad from Drouhin? What I've tasted has run from fine to bloody brilliant.... And best of all, I just heard, we're getting Domaine Drouhin Oregon Pinot Noir 2001 here soon!

The only Drouhin listed on the webste for my BAWS is a 1998. It's $16.99. Should I go for it?

The website is not always reliable, but the thought of eight year old bojo does wet the appettite.

17 doesn't sound bad (by Finnish pricing). Well made Bojos - esp the Crus - keep well. For that price I'd be willing to take the risk. Which one is listed?


Bob and Carl, glad to hear the 03 wasn't over the top. I remember the Moulin-à-Vent being rather nice also, but didn't buy any because the surrounding vintages were IMO better still.

[James Roscoe]

Otto, it was this one - 1998 Joseph Drouhin Moulin A Vent

[Robin Garr]

Looking for something good in a Cru from Drouhin in Beaujolais, I found no more recent vintages but was quite happy to bring home a 2000 Morgon to sacrifice for Open Mike.

According to the Drouhin Website, "Morgon is located between Régnié and Chiroubles, in the heart of the zone encompassing the Crus of Beaujolais. The type of soil in Morgon is unique: 'rotten stone' (<i>pierre pourrie</i>) and crumbling schists, which perhaps explains why this Cru is so different from the others in terms of taste and longevity. As elsewhere in Beaujolais, the grape variety used is the Gamay. The type of pruning is called 'gobelet,' different from the 'Guyot' system used in the Côte d'Or for Pinot Noir. Morgon is a fleshy and well-structured wine, with a marked fullness on the palate. It is also reputed to be the longest ageing Cru of Beaujolais."

<table border="0" align="right" width="165"><tr><td><img src="http://www.wineloverspage.com/graphics1/drou0813.jpg" border="1" align="right"></td></tr></table>Joseph Drouhin 2000 Morgon ($15.29)
Dark reddish-purple, with glints of bright ruby; perhaps just a touch of haze, not a flaw but the look of an unfiltred wine. Red fruit remains fresh, with earthiness as a "dusty" touch of clay-like minerality, nicely balanced with crisp fresh-fruit acidity. Holding up very well despite having spent its life in casual wine-shop storage. U.S. importer: Dreyfus, Ashby & Co., NYC. (Aug. 14, 2006)

<B>FOOD MATCH:</b> Couldn't ask for a better match than grilled duck breast medallions. It fared well, too, with a meatless side dish of Bologna-style cauliflower with fresh tomatoes and garlic over conchiglie.

<B>VALUE:</B> No qualms about a mid-teens price for a wine of this quality.

<B>WHEN TO DRINK:</B> Plenty of fruit and good balance suggests a few years left to it yet, although better storage will be increasingly important as it gets older.

<B>WEB LINK:</B>
Joseph Drouhin Website, http://www.drouhin.com/.

<B>FIND THIS WINE ONLINE:</B>
In spite of Morgon's purported longevity, it's interesting that Wine-Searcher.com returns no hits on Drouhin Morgon before 2002. For the record, here's a link to find vendors and check prices for Joseph Drouhin Morgon (all available vintages).

[Bob Parsons Alberta]

Robin, about to post on the `04 when I get a chance! Don`t hold your breath!!

[Bob Parsons Alberta]

TN: `04 J Drouhin-Morgon.

I have to say right off the bat that I had big expectations for this wine which the agent managed to find in Calgary. Thanks Curtis for all your efforts and really appreciated.
As with all the bollyjolly`s tasted this month, slightly chilled as I think this will enhance the wine`s potential. This one is 13% alc, was not decanted.

The colour is real light and I wonder about the depth that I have been alerted to? Translucent, lightish red with no center of note. Has to be unfiltered with some floaties noticed. The nose is all red berry fruits, floral , violets but nought outstanding! Really expected more here.
On the palate, the initial mouthfeel entry is raspberry and tons of strawberry. Some tannins but not a very memorable finish. Tastes better than the insipid smell but do not think this is going places and will not hold in the cellar. After some air found some white pepper but so-so acidity. Am I looking at this wine from the wrong angle? Looked at the notes on cellar-tracker for Morgon, mine does not taste anything like that!! Yup, its Beaujolais and blind I would have said "villages" but not this time folks.

Cost was $15.00 Cdn.
Food a very nice NY with mushrooms in herb butter.

*** have a `03 Duboeuf Morgon to try later this month.

[Robin Garr]

Looked at the notes on cellar-tracker for Morgon, mine does not taste anything like that!! Yup, its Beaujolais and blind I would have said "villages" but not this time folks.

Bob, I wonder if you had a case of light cork taint? That sounds like a classic description of a wine that's not corked enough to display the characteristic TCA moldy/chlorine stench but just sufficiently to mute the aromas and flavors.

[Bob Parsons Alberta]

Dunno, shall I open the other bottle I was given?!! You raise a good point though and I was not thinking along those lines. Any thoughts on that Sandhill I posted?

[Mike Conner]

2005 Drouhin Beaujolais-Villages $15.72 (after discount and add tax)

The only Drouhin Beaujolais available at the store which usually has the greatest breath of selections in town. And, with the pile in the bin, I suspect it just got to town - so no idea of bottle travel thrashing, etc.

And, this is not a very strong tasting report as this was the third red during an extremely busy evening of my helping my friend and his family celebrate the Bat Mitzvah of his daughter. Was busy keeping the food on the buffet going not to mention clean up afterwards.

A bright cherry and strawberry fruity nose . . . immediately identifiable as Beaujolais to me. Very bold on the palate as the fruit and acidity is duking it out at the moment. After a little bit of time open, smooths somewhat and gives a bit more pleasure. Not a lot of stuffing, but tasty. Given that, I think this will have a bit of a future - components are present - just not showing all that well.

I have a glass or two left that I hope to finish some time today, so perhaps I will have a secondary note.

Mike