Visit to Domaine Dujac – tasting the 2018s

The Winehog has a long history with Domaine Dujac, as I have followed it since the early 1990s. I have tasted many wines even further back – including a delightful 1976 Clos St. Denis that is a benchmark for hot vintages, alongside some 1947s and perhaps a few 1959s from other domaines.

After tasting many 2018s, it is clear it is indeed a hot vintage, and while the heat can be tamed, it’s somehow impossible not to have a warm sensation in the wines. Or to put it more politely, a fine, ripe generosity saturates the wines.

I don’t see a problem with this warm generosity – and I prefer honesty in any vintage – given that it’s impossible to completely eliminate the year’s warm impression.

Dujac and the 2018 vintage: hot or not?

Dujac has managed to find a nice balance in its 2018s, as they are not too hot and none of the wines are excessively high in alcohol.

The harvest was long, with more than of 10 days of picking reds, and with uneven ripeness across the vineyards. Around 80% whole-cluster grapes were used in the 2018 vinification, as well as more pump-overs and fewer punchdowns, following the tendancy seen in recent years.

The wines are, like many 2018s, balancing their phenolic ripeness on the edge of a knife. Some have really nailed the balance between freshness and phenolic ripeness, while others are struggling a bit more with the conditions of 2018. This is how it is with the 2018s at most estates, and Domaine Dujac has not escaped the phenomenon. Its long harvest serves as an indicator of its quest to balance sugar and phenolic ripeness.

But let’s find the gems from Domaine Dujac in 2018!

Tasting Notes – Domaine Dujac 2018s

Dujac Fils et Pere Gevrey-Chambertin 2018

Starting with one of the negociant wines, the Gevrey-Chambertin village is showing very well – slightly reduced, though with lovely sweet, ripe fruit. It is offering forward fruit with a fine level of ripeness and a nice mid-palate texture and freshness. Give it five years or more in the cellar and it will reward you with even greater drinkability.

(Drink from 2025) – Very Good (88 – 89p) – Tasted 15/11/2019 – ?

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Dujac Fils et Pere Chambolle-Musigny 2018

The Chambolle-Musigny negociant bottling is forward and rather lightfooted for the vintage. It offers a fine drinkability and is outgoing, showing fine balance and a good ripeness level. This is a wine for short/medium-term enjoyment with a nice Chambolle expression. Not a big wine in the context of the vintage, but balanced.

(Drink from 2025) – Very Good (87 – 89p) – Tasted 15/11/2019

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Dujac Fils et Pere Morey-Saint-Denis 2018

The negociant bottling of the Morey village also includes some 1er cru that beefs up this wine a bit – hence it has more depth and mid-palate intensity than the negociant Chambolle. It is finely balanced, like the Gevrey village, with nice density and delightful material.

(Drink from 2025) – Very Good (88 – 89p) – Tasted 15/11/2019

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Dujac Fils et Pere Nuits-Saint-Georges Les Damodes 2018

Les Damodes is a step up in concentration and refinement. It’s rich and velvety, offering a lovely, sandy mineral note. It’s relatively rich with a nice level of ripeness. Finely balanced and with well-judged phenolic ripeness.

(Drink from 2028) – Very Good+ (90 – 91p) – Tasted 15/11/2019
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Dujac Fils et Pere Nuits-Saint-Georges Aux Cras 2018

The Aux Cras is somewhat reduced, but is offering nice intensity and a vivid, fruity note. The lovely minerality sets the scene, and the fruity mid-palate offers delightful intensity. It is not massively intense or concentrated, but is offering a nice expression of the terroir. I do like Aux Cras.

(Drink from 2028) – Fine (90 – 92p) – Tasted 15/11/2019

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Domaine Dujac Morey-Saint-Denis 2018

Moving to the “Domaine” Dujac Morey village, we see the usual step up in concentration, definition and focus. There is slight reduction, but juicy fruit notes are lurking, along with precise minerality. On the palate, vibrant and fresh fruit with lovely depth. It’s quite a big village, but is nonetheless fresh and rather light-footed in its expression.

(Drink from 2027) – Very Good (90 – 91p) – Tasted 15/11/2019 – from CASK – ?

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Domaine Dujac Chambolle-Musigny 2015

Moving to the domaine’s Chambolle-Musigny, we see a significant step up in concentration and punch. An extroverted wine with intense mid-palate fruit, this has a good level of extraction. The Morey is more harmonious, while this will require more time.

(Drink from 2029) – Very Good (90 – 91p) – Tasted 15/11/2019 – from CASK

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Lastest Tasting Notes for this producer

• Domaine Dujac Gevrey-Chambertin Aux Combottes 2010 February 9, 2020
• Domaine Dujac Vosne-Romanée Les Beaux Monts 2010 February 8, 2020
• Hope for an old Romanée-Conti, and a delightful Dujac 1976 September 27, 2019
• Domaine Dujac, Vosne-Romanée Aux Malconsort 2010 March 25, 2019
• Domaine Dujac, Bonnes Mares 2004 February 8, 2019
• Domaine Dujac, Bonnes Mares 1999 January 19, 2019
• Domaine Dujac, Clos de la Roche 2007 October 25, 2018
• Domaine Dujac, Echezeaux 2008 July 16, 2018
• Domaine Dujac, Vosne-Romanée Aux Malconsort 2008 July 14, 2018
• Domaine Dujac, Chambolle Musigny 2015 April 12, 2018
• Domaine Dujac, Chambolle Musigny 2014 April 11, 2018
• Domaine Dujac, Bonnes Mares 1976 October 20, 2017
• Domaine Dujac, Clos Saint Denis 2009 August 18, 2017
• Domaine Dujac, Bonnes Mares 2015 July 8, 2017
• Domaine Dujac, Clos de la Roche 2015 July 8, 2017
• Domaine Dujac, Clos Saint Denis 2015 July 8, 2017
• Domaine Dujac, Echezeaux 2015 July 8, 2017
• Domaine Dujac, Vosne-Romanée Aux Malconsorts 2015 July 8, 2017
• Domaine Dujac, Gevrey-Chambertin Aux Combottes 2015 July 8, 2017
• Domaine Dujac, Gevrey-Chambertin Aux Combottes 2015 July 8, 2017

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