2019 Domaine Joannès Violot-Guillemard Beaune 1er Cru Clos des Mouches Blanc

The 2019 Domaine Joannès Violot-Guillemard Beaune 1er Cru Clos des Mouches Blanc is a rare and alluring white Burgundy from one of Beaune’s most storied premier cru vineyards. Crafted entirely from Chardonnay and produced in tiny quantities, it marries finesse, texture and minerality in a way that immediately captures attention. Long associated with the historic Clos des Mouches parcel and now showcasing the new generation under Joannès Violot-Guillemard, this cuvée stands at the crossroads of tradition and a more precise, contemporary style.

Tasting Notes
In the glass, this Beaune 1er Cru Clos des Mouches Blanc shows a bright, pale gold color with subtle green reflections that hint at freshness and youth. The nose is expressive and refined, opening with aromas of orange oil, citrus blossom and fresh pear, layered with notes of toasted bread and a gentle, nutty underpinning from its time in barrel. On the palate, it is medium to full-bodied with a lively, almost energetic profile that remains beautifully balanced by a supple, textured mouthfeel. A generous core of ripe stone and orchard fruit is framed by crisp citrus and a pronounced mineral line, leading into a finely etched, well-defined finish. Already highly charming in its youth, this 2019 has the structure and freshness to develop additional complexity over the next 7–10 years, gaining more hazelnut, honeyed and brioche nuances with bottle age.

Production
Clos des Mouches is one of Beaune’s most renowned premier cru sites, its name recalling the beehives once kept there by the monks of Cîteaux (“mouches à miel” being an old term for bees). The white parcel sits on a slope with well-drained, limestone-rich soils that naturally favor Chardonnay of tension and length, and yields here are tightly controlled, especially as the vines are still very young, with an average age of around six years across approximately 0.20 hectares. Grapes are hand-harvested and brought to the cellar without added sulfites at the crush, allowing alcoholic fermentation to proceed with native yeasts. Immediately after the completion of alcoholic fermentation, lactic acid bacteria are introduced to initiate malolactic fermentation, softening the wine’s acidity and adding creamier texture. The wine is then aged in carefully selected barrels for about 11 months before being fined if necessary and bottled at the domaine, a regimen designed to protect purity while adding subtle complexity and structure.

Food & Serving
This Beaune 1er Cru Clos des Mouches Blanc is a natural match for refined, delicately prepared dishes such as butter-poached lobster, seared scallops, roasted turbot, or line-caught sole with a beurre blanc. It also pairs beautifully with roast chicken, veal in a light cream sauce, or earthy yet elegant dishes like mushroom fricassée and fine poultry terrines. Soft-rind cheeses such as Brie de Meaux or triple-cream cheeses will echo its creamy texture and nutty, toasty nuances. Serve at 10–12°C (50–54°F) to highlight its freshness and aromatic detail; a brief 30-minute decant or some time in a large-bowled glass can help the wine fully open up, especially in its first few years after release.

Producer
Domaine Joannès Violot-Guillemard represents the new chapter of a long-standing Pommard-based family estate, historically known as Domaine Thierry Violot-Guillemard. Rooted in the Côte de Beaune, the domaine has built a reputation for precise, expressive wines that increasingly favor finesse, aromatics and terroir transparency over the older, more rustic style sometimes associated with the region. The 2019 vintage marks a symbolic evolution, with Joannès taking a leading role and giving his name to the label, reflecting a generational shift toward thoughtful vineyard management, careful yield control and meticulous élevage. His wines—often compared in aromatic refinement to some of the best addresses in the Côte de Nuits—have quickly drawn critical attention, positioning the estate as a rising reference point in Burgundy.

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