The producer
Domaine Drouhin-Laroze, based in Gevrey-Chambertin, is one of Burgundy’s long-standing family estates, renowned for combining classical craftsmanship with a thoughtful, modern sensibility. Founded in 1850 by Jean-Baptiste Laroze and now led by Philippe Drouhin alongside his son Nicolas, the domaine spans over 11 hectares across some of the Côte de Nuits’ most prestigious appellations, including Chambertin, Clos de Bèze, and Bonnes-Mares.
In Gevrey-Chambertin, the estate’s heartland, Drouhin-Laroze produces wines that perfectly capture the village’s character—structured yet refined, marked by deep fruit, freshness, and a subtle mineral edge. The family’s approach emphasizes low yields, careful vineyard management, and minimal intervention in the cellar to ensure that each wine reflects its origin with clarity and elegance. Aging is tailored to cru and vintage, with new oak reserved for the grands crus and gentler élevage for the premiers and village wines. Today, Domaine Drouhin-Laroze stands as a benchmark producer in Gevrey-Chambertin, marrying six generations of tradition with an unwavering commitment to purity and precision.
The wine
Domaine Drouhin-Laroze, Lavaut Saint-Jacques 1er Cru, Gevrey-Chambertin is a striking interpretation of one of the village’s most characterful Premier Cru sites. Nestled high on the Combe de Lavaux, the vineyard’s cool air currents and rocky limestone soils confer a distinctive finesse and tension, while its proximity to the grands crus below ensures depth and gravitas. The wine is crafted with the domaine’s hallmark precision, often incorporating a measured proportion of whole clusters to heighten aromatic definition and structural complexity.
The nose is beautifully sculpted, offering lifted aromas of wild cherry, redcurrant, cranberry, and violets, layered with hints of crushed stone, subtle spice, and the woodland nuances that mark this cooler, wind-influenced terroir. On the palate, it is both vibrant and refined, marrying the firm, savoury backbone typical of Gevrey-Chambertin with the elegance and verticality that distinguish Lavaut Saint-Jacques. Sleek red fruits, taut minerality, and finely woven tannins carry through to a long, focused finish that resonates with energy and precision.
This Premier Cru consistently ranks among the most compelling wines in the Drouhin-Laroze portfolio, a wine of purity, tension, and ageing potential that captures the interplay of power and poise unique to Lavaut Saint-Jacques.
