Joseph Drouhin Saint-Veran 2022
(Burgundy, France) - [JS 92] [WRO 92] [WS 91, #48 Top 100 of 2024]

Click here to see all Wine Spectator Top 100 Wines of 2024 we have in stock—while still available!

About the Winery:

Out of firm conviction, Drouhin has adopted a biological and biodynamic approach to viticulture. Listening to nature: from vine to glass, at every step in the elaboration of the wine, a profound respect and deference to nature prevails. From its very beginning, Maison Joseph Drouhin has aimed for an ideal of perfection and elegance. The style of JosephDrouhin combines balance, harmony and character, providing infinite pleasure. Thanks to its open-minded world view, Joseph Drouhin introduces the best of Burgundy to all continents. Its active presence in many countries is the surest proof of its desire to get acquainted and understand other cultures and styles of living.

About the Vineyard:

The vineyard site is at the southern end of Burgundy, just north of Beaujolais. The appellation Saint-Véran is actually larger than the territory of the commune. 

History & tradition: 
• The actual village of Saint-Vérand is spelled differently (note the final “d”). 
• Established by decree in 1971, it is the latest appellation in the Mâconnais region. 
• Soil: Jurassic limestone, a continuation of the chalky strata found in the Côte d’Or, ideal for growing Chardonnay grapes.

Viticulture: 
• Plantation density: 8,500 vine stocks/hectare. 
• Pruning: Guyot. Yield: purposely low in order to extract all possible nuances from the terroir. 
• Supply: grapes and must purchased from regular suppliers (long term contracts).

Vinification: 
• Pressing: very slow so as to respect the fruit. Juices from the last pressings are not retained. 
• No artificial yeasts or enzymes are used.

Ageing: 
• Type: in stainless steel vats. 
• Length: 6 to 8 months. 

Tasting note by Véronique Boss-Drouhin:

A wine that smiles and makes you smile! It is stylistically close to Pouilly-Fuissé, 
with its golden hue, its greenish reflection and its refreshing taste. The aromas are reminiscent of the ripe Chardonnay grape, with subtle notes of musk. A pleasant roundness coats the palate. 

Vintage Notes:

2022 offered a good maturity with particularly aromatic white wines. Citrus and ripe fruit mingle with delicate floral fragrances, very often accompanied by slightly spicy pastry notes. The palate, tender and fleshy, is based on a strong texture. Endowed with a pleasant roundness and a rich aftertaste, the wines of this vintage are well-balanced and show an excellent ageing potential.

Ratings & Reviews:

92 Points - Wine Review Online:
Saint-Véran, an appellation in Mâconnais, the southern part of Burgundy, abuts and surrounds Pouilly-Fuissé. Like its more famous — and expensive — neighbor, it makes only white wines and only from Chardonnay. Drouhin, one of Burgundy’s top négociants, has been making a consistently excellent Saint-Véran year in and year out for decades. Their stylish 2022, from an excellent vintage, is no exception. Bright and fresh acidity balances its subtle creamy richness. Not an opulent, in-your-face Chardonnay, this is an elegant white Burgundy. It will elevate a simple roast chicken.( Michael Apstein)

92 Points - James Suckling:
A fresh and vivid white with sliced apples, lemons and mineral undertones. Medium-bodied, crisp and bright. Excellent energy for this appellation. Delicious now.


91 Points, #48 Top 100 of 2024 - Wine Spectator:
"Peach and melon fruit is offset by a bitter citrus note in this tense, well-structured white. An intense version, with hints of wild herbs and a stony feel on the finish. Drink now through 2028. 3,000 cases imported." - Bruce Sanderson (May 2024)

90 Points - John Gilman, View from the Cellar:
“The 2022 Saint-Véran from Maison Joseph Drouhin is a lovely example of its appellation, and for the first time in more than a decade in the American market, the wine comes sealed under a natural cork this year! The wine is nicely ripe in the style of the vintage, coming in at 13.5 percent octane and offering up a beautifully generous and expressive nose of apple, nectarine, a lovely base of chalky soil tones, just a hint of almond, fruit blossoms and a very gentle framing of vanillin oak. On the palate the wine is bright, focused and full-bodied, with a fine core of fruit, excellent soil undertow and grip, zesty acids and impeccable balance on the long and vibrant finish. Texturally, this wine is so much more pleasing now on the palate with its return to a natural closure. Fine juice.”