Wine Advisor
Domaine Dujac, Charmes Chambertin Grand Cru 2011
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Description
Tasting notes
Reviewed by: Antonio Galloni
The 2011 Charmes-Chambertin comes across as immediate and wonderfully expressive, even at this early stage. What the Charmes lacks in structure or pure visceral thrill it more than makes up for with its supple, engaging personality. Dark blue/purplish fruit, spices, violets and mint meld together in a layered, vibrant Charmes that is intense yet also very much medium in body and approachable for a Grand Cru. In this vintages, proprietor Jeremy Seysses used 70% whole clusters, all of which are integrated quite nicely.
Reviewed by: Stephen Tanzer
Good deep red. Very ripe, perfumed aromas of raspberry, flowers and underbrush. Sweet on entry, then a bit burly in the middle, showing moderate depth but plenty of early accessibility. A bit oaky today, finishing with chunky tannins. Plenty of texture here but doesn't quite have the lift or treble notes of the Combottes.
Reviewed by: Stephen Tanzer
Good medium red. Dark raspberry, flowers and a whiff of tar on the nose. Quite tightly wound, even a bit lean today, displaying very good spicy energy but little in the way of early generosity. This uncompromisingly dry wine finishes tough and slightly dry. Perhaps a bit hardened today by CO2.
Reviewed by: Neal Martin
The 2011 Charmes-Chambertin Grand Cru has a well-defined, transparent bouquet that is atypically reserved and is missing a little exuberance exhibited by say, Rousseau’s, that I encountered earlier the same day. The palate is medium-bodied with a very grippy entry. This is a stern, serious Charmes-Chambertin that needs to develop more –”charm.” Drink 2015-2022. I have been visiting Jeremy and Alec Seysses at Domaine Dujac for several years now, and it is always one of my favorite ports of call. Alec, looking surprisingly chipper for a new dad had taken time off nappy duty to guide me through the 2011s this year. I have to confess that I was concerned by the conspicuous nature of the new oak on both their negociant label wines and the entry Village Crus. I felt that 35% new oak tended to overwhelm the fruit and terroir and occasionally impart drying finishes, which is why my scores are parsimonious here. As I tasted through the range toward the flock of Grand Crus the oak seemed better assimilated, although I would still maintain that the wine is of such quality that the present level of oak risks being superfluous to requirements. All the negociant label wines were bottled before Christmas. Importers: The Sorting Table, Napa, CA; tel. (415) 491-4724; Chambers & Chambers Wine Merchants, San Francisco, CA; tel. (415) 642-5500
About the Producer
Domaine Dujac is managed by the Seysses family. It was founded in 1967 by Jacque Seyesses. At the beginning, Château Dujac had only 4.5 hectares of vineyards in Morey-Saint-Denis. The vineyards were expanded with the purchase of Echezeaux, Bonnes MaresChambertin, Romanee St Vivant and Vosene-Romanee. The estate also owns 1.95 hectares of vineyards in the Clos de la Roche, where the vines are on average 45 to 50 years old. The estate also has 1.45 hectares of vineyards in Clos Saint-Denis, with vines of an average age of 45 to 50 years. In 2005, Château Dujac, together with Chateau de Puligny-Montrachet, acquired Domaine Charles Thomas, acquiring Charles Thomas' shares in the vineyards of Chambertin, Vosne- Romanee and other vineyards. However, the estate sold some of its vineyards after the purchase in order to finance the purchase. However, this acquisition allowed the estate to expand to around 15.5 hectares. Under Jacques' leadership, Château Dujac has developed very well. The grapes were pressed whole and the must was fermented in new oak barrels, and in 1999, when Jacques handed over the running of the estate to his son, the way the estate was made changed dramatically: the grapes were sometimes destemmed and the barrels used for fermentation were probably only 25% new oak. However, the estate's Grand Cru wines are still matured in new oak barrels, while the Grand Cru wines are matured in 60% to 80% new oak barrels. Bottling usually takes place in February or March of the following year. The estate produces around 4,650 bottles/hectare of wine.
