The story of Domaine Dujac begins when Jacques Seysses, heir of a famous biscuit factory, spends some vintages with Gérard Potel at his estate Pousse d’Or in Volnay. After receiving the necessary teachings, the 25-year-old Jacques purchased the historic Graillet estate of Morey-Saint-Denis in 1968, and renamed it Domaine Dujac (contraction of “du Jacques”). From the marriage of 1973 with his wife Rosalind born Alec and Jeremy who, between 1998 and 2003, enter the company until becoming the current owners, assisted by Jeremy’s wife, Diana.
Although the original 5 hectares of the estate had already become 11 in 1977, and then reached the final quota of 15.5 in 2005, the core of the domaine remained inextricably linked to the municipality of Morey-Saint-Denis. Obviously this development has required an expansion of the labor force, both occasional and permanent, also due to the fact that, with the passage of time, the production philosophy has also changed. Currently at the domaine there are two guiding principles that are the basis of wine production: the great use of manual work in the vineyard, and the adoption of organic and biodynamic philosophies.
As for work in the vineyard, it is the conviction of the property that its historical employees represent a treasure to be protected, also because every single worker has been working for over 20 years on only two, specific, hectares during the year. It took a long time to teach them the pruning systems that allow the plant to produce naturally few concentrated fruits (without resorting to green pre-harvest), the abandonment of chemistry in the vineyard, and the transition to organic compost and biodynamic preparations only (and this heritage must be protected). What happens in the winery, therefore, is the logical consequence of this work, with the enologist who limits himself to follow what the grapes were naturally able to develop during a year of care.
Among the wines produced, a pretty interesting reference is made by a white wine, always produced in Morey-Saint-Denis: the 1er Cru Les Monts Luisants. wine, always produced in Morey-Saint-Denis: the 1er Cru Les Monts Luisants. The vineyard, from the classic east exposure, is located in the north-eastern area of the municipality, at an altitude between 311 and 343 meters, with a really remarkable slope (24%) and a layer of 60-80 cm of calcareous gravel under which there is a soil with a carbonate/silt skeleton. After the manual harvest, the grapes are de-stemmed, gently pressed and left to ferment spontaneously, in steel tanks, by means the indigenous yeasts. One year of aging in barrique, 3-4 months in steel, and the wine is ready for bottling and marketing.
The 2012 vintage has a light straw color, and an olfactory range that opens on notes of kumquat, medlar, grapefruit and hawthorn, followed by pineapple, chlorophyll, butter and toasted hazelnut, with final echoes of boisée and wet flint. The palate strikes for an electric and glittering acidity that, slowly, leaves room for a good sapid/ mineral component and a hint of white pepper; all enriched by the return of citrus and spice that accompany the sip until a long and juicy finish.
Rating: 91/100
Want to find out what I can do for you? Click here!
