Joseph Drouhin Givry 2013

It's little secret the Gallic monarchy were an amorous lot. Not least, French King Henry IV. He had numerous nicknames, one being “Good King Henry”. Another was 'le vert gallant', or 'The Green Gallant', in reference to his many Mistresses.

One evening, he playfully requested his squire bring him something “round, soft and seductive”. The innocent boy returned with a bottle of Givry. It could have gone very badly for the squire, but on tasting the wine, King Henry was so enamoured of the bright, intense offering that he nearly gave up women altogether. Truly, a wine fit for a King!

Originally from the Chablis region, Joseph Drouhin chose the city of Beaune to found his winemaking business in 1880. With each following generation the estate grew larger, also passing down their knowledge and passion for excellent wines. Today, Maison Joseph Drouhin continues his families heritage.

The estate have adopted a biodynamic approach to winemaking, only using natural products within the vineyards to show respect for the soil, vines and the surrounding environment.

Maceration and vinification for this red wine takes 2 to 3 weeks along with the use of indigenous yeasts and controlled temperatures. The wine is then aged in oak barrels, 10% of which are new, for 12 to 15 months.

A round and seductive wine, appreciated by all wine connoisseurs. With its lively and bright colour, it has intense fruity aromas reminiscent of gooseberry and black currant, evolving towards spicy nuances as the wine gets older. On the palate, there is a nice balance between texture and finesse, with firm but refined tannins. Long and enticing aftertaste, with flavours of very ripe fruit.