(Drouhin's largest crop in this premier cru since 2012): Pale, bright yellow. Pure but subdued scents of white peach, pear, white flowers and brown spices. Thick and fresh on the palate, relying more on its mineral lift than on its acidity for shape and grip; still a touch of apple here from the lot that finished its secondary fermentation recently. A very young, fine-grained, rather delicate wine with a subtly rising finish--and built to age. Drouhin harvested this vineyard from September 23 into the beginning of October.

Tasted from bottle, the 2016 Beaune 1er Cru Clos des Mouches Blanc bursts with a dramatic bouquet of honeyed peaches, yellow orchard fruit and ripe pear, framed by a delicate touch of toasty new oak. On the palate, it's medium to full-bodied, ample and fleshy, with a rich, textural attack, moderate acids and an open-knit core, concluding with a pure and saline finish. The Clos des Mouches escaped the 2016 frosts and produced the largest crop Drouhin has harvested here since 2012, and the resulting wine is a surprisingly gourmand, front-loaded rendition of this venerable cuvée that will deliver a great deal of near- and mid-term pleasure, but it doesn't seem built for the long haul.

They 2016 Beaune 1er Cru Clos des Mouches Blanc escaped hail damage (for a change!). It has an attractive bouquet, quite floral in style with yellow flowers, orange zest and a touch of lemon peel. I like the energy here. The palate is well balanced with a slightly honeyed texture, a fine thread of acidity, quite dense and rich on the finish that caresses the mouth. I would like just a little more mineralité to show through by the time of bottling, and if so, it will merit a higher score. There is certainly potential here.