Hospices de Beaune Beaune Premier Cru Cuvee Maurice Drouhin 1998

The red wines harvested in the middle and to the south of the Beaune territory are tannic and powerful; they are generally dark in colour, and their aromas are both gamey and fruity (berries). The wines harvested in the north have a less intense colour and are beautifully supple. Grèves wines are, for many wine lovers, the great wine of Beaune par excellence. The name of this climat comes from the brilliant mixture of ochre and small stones (gravel) in the soil. A fine and racy wine, it develops intense notes of blackcurrant combined with a touch of fine spices. Much more powerful, the Marconnets and Clos du Roi climats produce wines for a long cellaring. Les Bressandes, Cent-Vignes and Les Fèves are fine and balanced. Finally, Cras, grown in stony soil, is fleshy and powerful.