Claude Dugat : Gevrey-Chambertin 1er cru "Lavaux St-Jacques" 2023

Characteristics and Tasting Notes for the Gevrey-Chambertin 1er cru "Lavaux St-Jacques" 2023 Claude Dugat

Tasting

Nose

The nose opens on ripe black fruit—black currant and blackberry—layered with touches of licorice and delicate floral nuances reminiscent of flower petals, giving a bouquet that is both generous and refined.

Palate

On the palate, the wine shows a medium-to-full body, with a rich, fleshy texture built on vibrant acidity and powdery tannins. The black fruit carries a juicy, sappy quality, while the finish turns powerful and energetic, accented by a touch of black pepper and a clear mineral edge that speaks of its origin.

Food and wine pairings

This wine pairs naturally with grilled or roasted red meats, as well as classic simmered dishes such as beef bourguignon. It also suits braised game in sauce and holds up well alongside assertive washed-rind cheeses like Époisses or Langres.

Serving and cellaring

This Gevrey-Chambertin 1er cru "Lavaux St-Jacques" 2023 is best approached with a measure of patience: critic Neal Martin notes that time will help soften its firm structure and allow its full character to unfold.

A Structured, Mineral-Driven Gevrey-Chambertin 1er cru from Claude Dugat

The Estate

Claude Dugat began bottling and marketing wine under his own name in the early 1990s, after taking charge of the family property in 1991, in the village of Gevrey-Chambertin, Burgundy. The six-hectare estate is planted exclusively to pinot noir and remains entirely family-run. Today, Bertrand Dugat oversees cellar work, supported by his sisters Laetitia and Jeanne, who manage the vineyards. The property is known for its small scale, old vines, and sustainable farming, producing a tightly focused range of wines drawn solely from Gevrey-Chambertin.

The Vineyard

This wine is sourced from the Lavaux St-Jacques climat, one of the most esteemed premier cru sites within the Gevrey-Chambertin appellation, lying at the mouth of the Combe de Lavaux. The south-facing slope benefits from a cooling air current descending from the combe, which tempers summer heat and extends the ripening period. The soil is thin and limestone-based, topped with red-brown clay marl, conditions well suited to pinot noir. The vines are farmed sustainably, without herbicides or synthetic fertilizers, with a growing emphasis on organic practices since 2013.

Winemaking and aging

The grapes for this Gevrey-Chambertin 1er cru "Lavaux St-Jacques" 2023 are fully destemmed before fermentation in concrete vats, with gentle punchdowns carried out twice daily to extract color and tannin progressively. The wine is aged in oak barrels from the François Frères cooperage, with new wood used in a measured proportion so as to frame the fruit without overpowering it. In keeping with the estate's recent approach, no chaptalization is practiced, allowing the wine to express its natural balance.

Grape Varieties

100% pinot noir.