The 2017 Drouhin-Laroze Chambertin Clos de Bèze is a Pinot Noir from the celebrated region of Burgundy, specifically the Cote de Nuits sub-region, within the Gevrey Chambertin appellation. This wine is produced by Drouhin-Laroze, a name synonymous with quality in the wine world. Notably, this red wine was crafted using 25% whole bunch vinification and matured in 80% new oak barrels. It has an alcohol content of 13.0% and is sealed with a traditional cork closure.
The reviews for this wine are generally positive, highlighting its depth and complexity. Neal Martin from Vinous describes the wine as having a "very intense bouquet with blackberry, briary and crushed stone aromas," and notes that it is "medium-bodied with a broody and dense, quite muscular finish that will require several years to soften." Martin awards it a score of 93, suggesting it is "one for the long-haul."
Burghound gives the wine a score of 94, noting its "brooding and inexpressive nose" that eventually gives way to "attractively spiced aromas of dark cherry, raspberry and plenty of floral wisps." The review emphasizes the wine's "better balance and proportion, particularly on the focused and lingering finish," acknowledging its solid power and mineral-inflected flavors.
Jasper Morris offers the most enthusiastic review, scoring it 97 points. He describes the wine as having "marvellous depth of fruit on the palate" with "fine-grained wood tannins" and a "long silky texture." Morris praises the wine's "suavity" and likens the feel of the vintage to "a little carpet of red velvet."
Overall, the 2017 Drouhin-Laroze Chambertin Clos de Bèze is a wine of notable depth and complexity, with the potential to develop further with age.