2016 Domaine Dujac Clos de la Roche Grand Cru

No Tasting Note Given  (5/2018)

Full, dark red. Captivating aromas of raspberry, strawberry, spices, flowers and sweet new oak. Juicy, intense and aromatic on the palate--youthfully imploded in a positive way. Projects compelling energy and subtle sweetness to its red berry and spice flavors. Finishes very long and tight, with an exhilarating wild berry element. A knockout sharply delineated Clos de la Roche that offers terrific intensity without any sense of weight. (the estate made a full crop of 40 hectoliters per hectare, as there was no frost here) (ST)  (1/2018)

The Clos de la Roche is attractive this year, opening in the glass with a complex bouquet of dark berries, strawberry, grilled meat, dark chocolate and pencil shavings, framed by a touch of new oak. On the palate the wine is full-bodied and multidimensional, with a fine but firm core of tannins that seems more structurally supple than has been the case in the last few vintages chez Dujac. Drinking Window 2028 - 2050. (WK)  (10/2017)

The 2016 Clos de la Roche from the Seysses family was really singing at the time of my visit. The bouquet jumps from the glass in a refined blend of red plums, cherries, gamebird, a touch of fresh nutmeg, superb soil tones and a deft base of vanillin oak. On the palate the wine is pure, full-bodied and very elegant out of the blocks this year, with a sappy core of fruit, outstanding backend soil signature, ripe, suave tannins and a long, complex and tangy finish. I love the balance and breed this exudes this year. (Drink between 2030-2075)  (11/2017)

A restrained and almost mute nose only grudgingly displays its blend of various red berries, spice and pretty floral wisps. There is terrific intensity to the sleek and beautifully delineated flavors that possess evident power on the stony, deep and gorgeously long finish. The supporting tannins are both ripe and firm and this beauty is going to require extended cellaring.  (1/2018)

The 2016 Clos de la Roche Grand Cru leans more toward red fruit than black fruit, just a little damp earth, wet leaf component that detracts from the purity. The palate is medium-bodied with slightly hard tannin, actually more like a Clos Saint-Denis, with touches of black olive on the masculine, maybe charmless finish? Let’s see how this matures in bottle. It may have just not performed on the day of my visit. (NM)  (12/2017)