Tasting Notes and Characteristics of the Clos Saint-Denis Grand Cru 2022 from Domaine Dujac

Tasting

Nose
The nose opens on a vibrant array of sweet red berries, cherry and blood orange, layered with rose petals and gentle spice. Additional notes of plum, black cherry, sandalwood and a touch of Asian-style tea add depth, while a generous floral bouquet lends elegance and lift to the overall aromatic profile.

Palate
The palate is full-bodied yet supple, with a seamless, velvety texture that carries a pure, multidimensional core of fresh fruit. Bright acidity keeps the wine lively, while the long, saline finish brings precision and tension. The mid-weight flavors show remarkable refinement, with a still-youthful, slightly austere and compact finish that points to a wine built for the long term. Rounder and spicier in character than some other grand crus of the estate, it carries a touch of spice typical of the appellation, with clear potential to gain complexity over time.

Food and Wine Pairings

This grand cru pairs beautifully with refined red meats such as roasted or grilled beef filet, as well as herb-crusted lamb. It also complements game dishes like venison or duck, and shows great affinity with mushroom-based preparations, truffle dishes, pan-seared foie gras and well-aged cheeses.

Serving and Cellaring

The Clos Saint-Denis Grand Cru 2022 shows a firm, youthful structure that calls for patience in the cellar. No official drinking window has been communicated for this wine, but its concentrated fruit, fine tannic backbone and saline finish suggest strong aging potential. Decanting ahead of service is recommended to allow the aromatics to fully unfold.

Other Characteristics

This is a dry red wine made entirely from pinot noir, with no residual sugar. It is also notable as the first vintage of this cuvée produced entirely in the estate's newly built cuverie, and yields for the grand crus in 2022 were kept in the range of 40 to 45 hectoliters per hectare, reflecting a generous yet carefully controlled harvest.

A Floral and Spice-Driven Grand Cru from Domaine Dujac in Morey-Saint-Denis

The Estate

Domaine Dujac was created in 1968 in Morey-Saint-Denis, in the heart of Burgundy's Côte de Nuits, when Jacques Seysses acquired the former Domaine Graillet. Still family-owned today, the estate is led by the second generation, Jeremy, Diana and Alec Seysses, under the continued guidance of founders Jacques and Rosalind. Dujac is recognized for its consistent use of whole-cluster vinification, its ambitious use of new oak, and its early and complete conversion to organic farming, certified since 2011, alongside biodynamic practices introduced in 2003.

The Vineyard

The Clos Saint-Denis grand cru lies on the Morey-Saint-Denis hillside, within the limestone-rich terroirs characteristic of the Côte de Nuits. Domaine Dujac holds roughly 1.45 hectares here, split across two distinct parcels, planted with vines averaging 45 to 50 years of age. The vineyard is farmed organically, in line with the estate's certification, and benefits from biodynamic practices applied across the entire domaine.

The Vintage

The 2022 vintage at Domaine Dujac was marked by generous yet carefully managed yields, with grand cru parcels kept around 40 to 45 hectoliters per hectare to preserve concentration and balance. It also stands out as the first vintage vinified entirely in the estate's newly completed cuverie, adding a new technical dimension to the production of this cuvée.

Winemaking and Aging

The Clos Saint-Denis Grand Cru 2022 follows Domaine Dujac's long-standing winemaking philosophy, built around whole-cluster vinification and fermentation with indigenous yeasts only. Maceration lasts around two weeks, beginning with gentle punch-downs and moving to softer pump-overs toward the end of fermentation to ensure delicate extraction. After light pneumatic pressing, the wine is moved to the cellar by gravity and aged for 14 to 18 months in oak barrels, with a significant proportion of new wood, sourced from the Rémond cooperage and purchased two years in advance to ensure optimal quality.

Grape Variety

This wine is produced from 100 % pinot noir.