Visit Domaine Duroché – tasting of the 2017s from cask

This is my third visit to Domaine Duroché one of the rising stars of Gevrey-Chambertin.

Pierre Duroché made some quite tremendous 2015s and 2016s, but it’s in my view somewhat to early to open these for a taste – although they have reached the restaurants already.

The 2014s from Duroché are fine for early drinking now, and the 2017 from here could well be the answer .. posing a slightly more posh and forward fruity style.

The 2017s from Duroché is a return to the slightly lighter and forward fruity style from the 2015 and 2016 — they are forward if you like, appealing .. yet perhaps not quite with the depth and radience of the previous two vintages.

In the end the 2017s does offer a lot of pleasure .. so lets go!

Tasting notes from the Visit on May 30th 2018

The Domaine Duroché, Gevrey-Chambertin 2017 village do start out with a fine purity. The nose offer lovely red and dark berries – boysenberries and raspberries – with a hint of iron minerality as a reminder of it’s Gevrey origin. On the palate juicy and vibrant with a lovely intensity – with a delighful intensity.

(Drink from 2023) – Very Good – (87 – 88p) – Tasted 30/05/2018
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Domaine Duroché, Gevrey-Chambertin Aux Etelois 2017. This plot is located on the southern side of Griotte-Chambertin alongside the Claude Dugat plot and below the Duroché plot of Griottes-Chambertin. It is vivid and fruity wine, that really show of all the trades … intense, vivid and silky .. offer anoter level to Gevery village. A delightful glass ..

(Drink from 2023) – Fine – (90 – 91p) – Tasted 30/05/2018
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Domaine Duroché, Gevrey-Chambertin Estournelles St. Jacques 2017 .. is showing well. It’s openly knit, forward .. good fruit intensity and does offer lovely drinking. Perhaps lacking a bit of focus comepared to the Lavaut – but does offer a lot of charm – the 2017.

(Drink from 2024) – Fine – (91 – 92p) – Tasted 30/05/2018
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Domaine Duroché, Gevrey-Chambertin Lavaut St. Jacques 2017. The regular Lavaut St. Jacques is a lovely wine. Fine depth and length – very fine organic stuffing also in the 2017 vintage. A treat – but not quite a full macth for the deeper and longer Les Laveat St. Jacques V.V.

(Drink from 2026) – Fine+ – (92 – 93p) – Tasted 30/05/2018
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Domaine Duroché, Gevrey-Chambertin Lavaut St. Jacques 2017 V.V. / first time I taste this treat. This wine is from a plot planted in 1923 – a rare treat to be honest. More depth and layered fruit than the regular cuvere .. tremendous depth – delightful mature and ripe fruit. Very Fine and refined expression of the minerality.

(Drink from 2028) – Very Fine- – (93 – 94p) – Tasted 30/05/2018
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The Domaine Duroché, Charmes-Chambertin 2017 is a quite generous wine and with a vivid balance. The fruit is generoes and rather elegant, hence offering a fine complexity .. matching the sweet and forward fruit. I do like both the balance and vibrant energy in this wine.

(Drink from 2027) – Very Fine – (92 – 94p) – Tasted 30/05/2018
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The Domaine Duroché Latriciere-Chambertin 2017 is a rather the cuvée located between Le Chambertin and Gevrey Chambertin Aux Combottes. The nose is rather crammed with quite cool and vibrant fruit – notes of pomegranate, strawberries and red currant. A intense wine .. yet less intense than the 2015 and 2016. This is however an very fine wine, with the effortless drinkability of the 2017 shining through.

(Drink from 2028) – Very Fine+ – (93 – 94p) – Tasted 30/05/2018
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Domaine Duroché, Griotte-Chambertin 2017 .. this is more than rare with a production of around 80 bottles. The Duroché Griotte-Chambertin 2017 is completely different than the other wines in the lineup, as it – like in previous vintages – is made from 100% whole cluster grapes. The bouquet is very expressive and organic offering cinnamon and all spice. On the palate rich, even velvet, boasting layers of generous velvet juice – hedonistic pleaseures here we come!

(Drink from 2028) – Outstanding – (94 – 95p) – Tasted 30/05/2018
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Last but not least Chambertin Clos de Bezé in my view the top wine at Domaine Duroché … The Domaine Duroché, Chambertin Clos de Bezé 2017 comes from a plot located in the central part of Clos de Bèze above Chapelle-Chambertin. Made from old vines planted in 1920 – offering both weight, length and power. It’s tremendously deep and very layered – yet somewhat more casual than the 2016. A treat for the palate – in the best possible way .. with a quite outstandingly depth.

(Drink from 2030) – Outstanding – (94 – 95p) – Tasted 30/05/2018
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Winehog – Recommendations

Domaine Duroché produce a quite large portfolio of wines … and it seems that I prefer the same wines each year – as the inherent style of the cuvées seem to remain fairly stable regardless of the vintage.

This year I would indeed pick the Gevrey-Chambertin Aux Etelois 2017, a village wine and a special wine one should try.

I have a soft spot for the Lavaux St. Jacques and in 2017 for the Charmes-Chambertin – and furthermore the Latriciere Chambertin is the wine of the vintage almost matching the Chambertin Clos de Bèze.

The Griotte with its 100% whole cluster grapes is a special wine .. highly recommended, but with a production of 80 bottles it’s hardly sensible to recommend this.

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