2001 Beaune Grèves 1er Cru

All of the Drouhin family's holdings are farmed organically, and six hectares are now farmed according to the more radical precepts of biodynamie Organic viticulture produces riper fruit earlier, Veronique Drouhin told me, which means that the family needs to do less crop thinning to arrive at the same yields. As the Drouhins have improved their vineyard techniques, they plan to drop some of their long-time suppliers, even some with grand cru holdings, because they find their fruit "no longer acceptable," according to winemaker Laurence Jobard. Said Veronique: Our father wanted to bottle the 2001s very early, but then he left for his vacation and we decided to wait." Most of the 2001s had been racked a couple weeks prior to my visit, and were a bit hard-edged from sulfiting.