2011 Joseph Drouhin, Batard-Montrachet Grand Cru 1x75cl

Vinous – 92

Drouhin’s 2011 Batard-Montrachet is all about texture, glycerin and richness. Honey, dried flowers, nectarine, tar, smoke and citrus are nicely layered in the glass. The only thing missing is the level of mid-palate fleshiness that is typical of Batard. Otherwise, this is a fine showing. [Antonio Galloni, 01/09/2013]

Burghound – 92-94

A distinctly floral nose also possesses plenty of complexity in the form of citrus zest, pear and apple nuances. There is strikingly good volume to the seductively textured broad-shouldered flavors thanks to the abundant level of dry extract, all wrapped in a wonderfully intense, balanced, precise and persistent finish that is both dry and quite saline. This should also be superb in time though note that this will require patience. [11/06/2013]

John Gilman – 94+

The 2011 Bâtard-Montrachet from Joseph Drouhin is excellent, with the inherent power of this vineyard beautifully synthesized into the elegant and more forward style of the vintage to produce a truly lovely example of this great grand cru. The deep and complex nose shows off a lovely blend of ripe apples and pears, chalky soil tones, incipient notes of butter, a bit of youthful herbal complications (also found in the Clos des Mouches Blanc this year), orange peel and vanillin oak. On the palate the wine is pure, full-bodied and displays stunning depth in the mid-palate, with crisp acids, excellent focus and grip and a very long, poised and moderately youthful finish. Like the Drouhin Corton-Charlemagne this year, the 2011 Bâtard-Montrachet will not need too many years in the cellar to really start to drink beautifully. Fine, fine juice. [01/12/2012]

Anticipated maturity: 2016-2035

JancisRobinson.com – 17.5

Mixture of domaine and bought in grapes. Quite deep greenish gold. Very broad and flashy even if without the tension of the Corton Charlemagne. Just a hint of smokiness but extremely unctuous and rich on the palate. Firm finish. But a little sweet and flashy. [27/11/2012]

Anticipated maturity: 2016-2030