Domaine Drouhin-Laroze Gevrey Chambertin Au Closeau 2021

Domaine Drouhin-Laroze Gevrey-Chambertin Au Closeau 1er Cru 2021 is a refined, classically styled red Burgundy from one of Gevrey’s historic family domaines. Drawn from the Premier Cru Au Closeau, a small, well-situated climat, this wine captures the precision and freshness of the cooler 2021 vintage while remaining true to Gevrey’s subtle power. With careful green harvesting to concentrate ripeness, it offers an elegant, earlier-drinking expression of Pinot Noir that still speaks clearly of place and pedigree.

Tasting Notes
In the glass, the 2021 Au Closeau shows a translucent ruby to garnet hue, typical of finely extracted Côte de Nuits Pinot Noir. The nose is expressive yet delicate, opening with a focused mix of red cherry, wild strawberry and blackcurrant, layered with hints of blackberry, rose petal, and the earthy tones of sous-bois and dried leaves that Neal Martin noted in his 2022 review. Subtle notes of spice and a touch of mineral lift add complexity without overwhelming the fruit. On the palate, this is medium-bodied and beautifully poised, with fine-grained tannins and a bright, well-judged acidity that keeps the wine lively and precise. Red and dark berry flavors are framed by gentle savory nuances and a discreet oak influence, leading into a harmonious, modestly long finish that emphasizes elegance over sheer power. While this 2021 is crafted for relatively early enjoyment and is already approachable, it has the structure to evolve gracefully over the next 5–8 years, gaining further complexity in bottle.

Production
Au Closeau is a Premier Cru climat in Gevrey-Chambertin, set on classic Côte de Nuits limestone and clay soils that naturally yield concentrated yet refined Pinot Noir. In 2021, Domaine Drouhin-Laroze undertook a green harvest, dropping fruit during the growing season to enhance ripeness and balance in a challenging, cooler year. The Pinot Noir grapes were picked by hand at optimal maturity, carefully sorted, and gently destemmed or partially destemmed in the cellar. Fermentation took place in temperature-controlled vats, allowing for a precise extraction of color and tannin while preserving aromatic purity. The wine was then aged in French oak barrels, a proportion of which were new, long enough to polish the structure and add subtle complexity without masking the vineyard’s character, before being bottled with a focus on finesse and terroir expression.

Food & Serving
This Gevrey-Chambertin Au Closeau 1er Cru is a versatile partner for refined dishes that highlight its elegance and structure. It pairs beautifully with roast duck, herb-crusted lamb, veal with morel mushrooms, or classic Burgundian fare such as coq au vin and boeuf bourguignon. Earthy sides, like wild mushroom fricassée, truffled potato purée, or root vegetables roasted in butter, also complement its sous-bois and red-fruited profile. Serve at 15–16°C (59–61°F) for optimal expression. A gentle decant of 30–45 minutes can help the nose open up, especially in its first few years, but extended decanting is not necessary given the wine’s already approachable, early-drinking style.

Producer
Domaine Drouhin-Laroze is a long-established family estate in Gevrey-Chambertin, with roots dating back to the mid-19th century and a deep history in the Côte de Nuits. Over generations, the domaine has built a reputation for crafting detailed, terroir-driven Pinot Noir from some of Burgundy’s most coveted climats, including grands crus such as Chambertin and Clos de Bèze, as well as top premier crus like Au Closeau. Their approach combines traditional Burgundian know-how with thoughtful, modern precision in the vineyard and cellar, emphasizing careful yield control, meticulous harvesting, and restrained use of oak. As a respected benchmark producer in Gevrey-Chambertin, Drouhin-Laroze plays an important role in showcasing the nuance and ageworthy elegance of the appellation’s premier and grand cru sites.

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