Domaine Dujac Clos de la Roche Grand Cru 2023
(Cote de Nuits, Burgundy, France) - [VM 96-98] [JM 95-98] [WA 94-95] [BH 93-96]

About the Winery:
Domaine Dujac was founded by 26-year-old Jacques Seysses, son of a successful biscuit manufacturer, Louis Seysses. Jacques first developed his winemaking career as an apprentice to Gérard Potel at Domaine de la Pousse d’Or. After two harvests at this domaine, he learned the essentials of their winemaking style and met some of Burgundy’s most revered winemakers. In 1967, he purchased 4.5 ha (11 acres) at Domaine Marcel Graillet in Morey-Saint-Denis and renamed the winery after himself as the “Domaine of Jac”, or Domaine Dujac. 

From the start, Jacques set his mission on blending modern techniques with traditional winemaking, while also refining a style that he could call his own. In 1978, Jacques obtained a degree in oenology and, overtime, provided guidance to interns including Ted Lemon of Littorai and Jean-Pierre de Smet, former owner and winemaker of Domaine de l`Arlot. As Dujac’s holdings expanded – from 5 ha in 1968 to nearly 16 ha today – Jacques and his wife Rosalind looked beyond local markets and exported nearly 80% of their production to 18 countries around the world. 

Today, the estate is transitioning to the next generation with son Alec, assuming many of his father’s administrative duties, son Jeremy who is heavily involved in winemaking & marketing, and Jeremy’s wife Diana Snowden, a UC Davis graduate in enology in charge of managing the cellar. 

Terroir:
The Clos de la Roche Grand Cru lies between the village of Morey-Saint-Denis to the south and Gevrey-Chambertin to the north, where the slope varies greatly, ranging from 4 to 23%. The plot ranges in altitude from 276 to 308 meters. The lieu-dit faces east.

The soil changes from east to west. In the eastern part, the reddish-brown soil is about 40 to 50 cm thick, with many angular-to-blunt limestone fragments. Upslope, in the western part of the Grand Cru, the soil contains a great deal of angular limestone gravel. 

Two types of substratum underlie the Clos de la Roche Grand Cru. In the eastern part, fine-grained Premeaux limestone, light in color, with patches of flint-like chert nodules (chailles), crops out in beds tens of centimeters thick. In the western part, where the slope is steep, the bedded limestone scree (grèzes litées) lining the slope is composed of small angular Comblanchien limestone fragments.

Ratings & Reviews

96-98 Points - Vinous Media:
"The 2023 Clos de la Roche Grand Cru is much more rich and extravagant on the nose than the Clos Saint-Denis. Red plums, redcurrant and light rose petal scents are joined by potpourri with aeration. The palate is medium-bodied with plush tannins and a fine bead of acidity. This is a lavish and sensual Clos de la Roche with an almost crystalline finish. Outstanding." - Neal Martin (Jan 2025)

95-98 Points - Jasper Morris’ Inside Burgundy:
"A clear deep ruby purple. There is an impressive quantity of pure refined deep raspberry fruit with a touch of graphite and the traditional blueberry from this site. The fruit is beautifully judged and it follows smoothly across the palate, with fine-grained tannins and adequate acidity. Drink from 2033-2045." (Nov 2024)

94-95 Points - Wine Advocate:
"The 2023 Clos de la Roche Grand Cru is lovely, offering up complex aromas of dark berries, cherries, vine smoke, spices and orange zest. Medium to full-bodied, layered and concentrated, it's deep and fleshy, with an open-knit, giving profile and a long, saline finish." - William Kelley (Jan 2025)

93-96 Points - Allen Meadows' Burghound:
"Here the expressive red and dark pinot fruit-suffused nose is once again wonderfully floral, indeed it's perfumed with a similar hint of dried orange peel. The punchy and powerful medium weight flavors are not especially concentrated yet there is a robust and decidedly tannic quality to the equally long finish that is already impressively complex. This is potentially great but be prepared to be patient." (Jan 2025)