Bouchard Père & Fils Beaune Clos de la Mousse 2020

Bouchard Père & Fils Beaune 1er Cru Clos de la Mousse 2020 is a pure expression of Pinot Noir from one of Beaune’s most historic monopole vineyards. Enclosed by its original stone walls, Clos de la Mousse has belonged exclusively to Bouchard since the 19th century, giving the domaine exceptional control over style and quality. The 2020 vintage delivers a vivid, concentrated Burgundy that combines ripe fruit, floral lift and refined structure in a seamless, polished profile.

Tasting Notes
In the glass, this Beaune 1er Cru shows a deep, vibrant ruby colour with garnet highlights at the rim, hinting at both youth and underlying concentration. The nose opens with pure aromas of ripe cherry and blackcurrant, followed by notes of wild berries, rose petals and a subtle touch of licorice, all wrapped in a delicate cloak of spice and fine oak. On the palate, the wine is medium to full-bodied, silky and generous, with a fleshy core of red and dark fruit framed by refined tannins. Lively acidity keeps the richness in perfect balance, giving a sense of energy and lift. Flavours of morello cherry, blackcurrant and raspberry mingle with hints of violets, licorice and a faint earthiness, leading to a long, perfumed finish. While already approachable in its youth, this 2020 Clos de la Mousse has the structure to evolve gracefully for 8–12 years from vintage, gaining complexity and tertiary nuance with time in bottle.

Production
Clos de la Mousse is a walled Premier Cru monopole situated on the mid-slope of Beaune, where clay-limestone soils, good drainage and optimal exposition favour Pinot Noir of depth and finesse. Bouchard Père & Fils practices careful, plot-by-plot vineyard management, with selective hand-harvesting to ensure only perfectly ripe, healthy grapes reach the cellar. After sorting, the fruit is traditionally vinified: fermentation in temperature-controlled vats with gentle extraction to preserve aromatic purity and fine tannins, followed by maturation in French oak barrels—typically including a proportion of new oak—for around 12 to 14 months. This approach highlights the distinctive character of Clos de la Mousse while adding subtle structure and complexity.

Food & Serving
This Beaune 1er Cru pairs beautifully with refined yet flavourful dishes such as roast duck, herb-crusted lamb, braised veal, or classic Burgundian fare like coq au vin and dishes featuring mushrooms or truffles. It also complements game birds, charcuterie and semi-soft cheeses such as Reblochon or Tomme. For optimal enjoyment, serve at 15–16°C. Decanting for 30–60 minutes in its youth helps the wine open up aromatically and softens the tannins, revealing its layered fruit and floral nuances.

Producer
Founded in 1731, Bouchard Père & Fils is one of Burgundy’s oldest and most respected domaines, with an exceptional mosaic of vineyard holdings from the Côte de Beaune to the Côte de Nuits. The house has played a key role in shaping the reputation of Beaune’s Premier Crus, and Clos de la Mousse—owned exclusively by Bouchard since 1872—is among its most emblematic monopoles. Combining centuries of tradition with modern precision in the vineyard and cellar, Bouchard has earned international recognition for producing Burgundies that are both true to their terroir and consistently high in quality.