Domaine Dujac
Clos de la Roche Grand Cru
Clos de la Roche Grand Cru, France
2013
Vintage
Varietal
Pinot Noir
Where it is, October 2026
Approaching Peak: the peak window is ahead.
In 2026, the 2013 Dujac Clos de la Roche is three years into its drinking window and approaching its peak, expected in 2028 and running through 2038. This is a lighter grand cru than the 2019 - the cool 2013 vintage produced a wine of floral transparency and mineral fragrance rather than dense concentration, and it is drinking with genuine charm right now. The tannins are integrating well, the whole-cluster complexity has begun to merge with secondary earthy notes, and the acidity is vibrant and carrying. Three more years will round out the profile further. Drink with pleasure now or hold through the peak decade. The modest structure of the vintage means the window will close gradually around 2045.
The ‘13 Clos de la Roche Grand Cru.
The 2013 Dujac Clos de la Roche is a cool-vintage grand cru of aromatic purity and mineral grace - in its drinking window since 2023 and building toward a refined peak from 2028 through 2038.
Cellared Ageability Index (CAI) drinking timeline
Storage and bottle condition can shift the experience.
The peak window sits inside the broader full drinking arc.
Tasting note
The 2013 Dujac Clos de la Roche is an aromatic, transparent wine: pale ruby with a developing brick tint, the nose offering cherry blossom, red berry, incense and whole-cluster herbs, and a stony mineral freshness that connects beautifully to the grand cru's iron-rich limestone core. The palate is light and silky, with bright acidity and a clean mineral finish that lingers longer than the wine's modest body might suggest. This is Clos de la Roche expressed with Chambolle-like delicacy: the site's gravitas is present but quiet, the aromatic lift dominant. A thoughtful, honest wine that represents the 2013 vintage at its best in a demanding grand cru framework.
The 2013 vintage
The 2013 Cote de Nuits vintage was defined by a cold, late spring followed by reduced yields from hail damage in parts of the appellation - Wine Spectator awarded the Clos de la Roche region a 92 (Outstanding) and described the wines as 'crisp, light-bodied Pinot Noirs with vibrant acidity and ripe fruit flavors.' For Clos de la Roche, where the grand cru's structure typically makes the wine demand patience, the cool season produced a lighter expression - one that the Dujac whole-cluster approach amplified into an aromatic, perfumed style rather than the dense, iron-driven character of great vintages like 2010 or 2019.
About Domaine Dujac
Domaine Dujac has farmed its Clos de la Roche parcel in Morey-Saint-Denis for decades, applying the same house philosophy across all appellations: whole-cluster fermentation with stems, minimal sulfur, no fining, no filtration. In the 2013 vintage, where fruit concentration was naturally modest, this approach produced wines of exceptional aromatic purity - the stems adding spice and freshness rather than harshness, the absence of filtration preserving every nuance. The Dujac style in cool vintages reveals a lighter, more fragrant personality that contrasts sharply with the grand cru's powerful years.
From the cellar: pair with
Roast chicken with truffle butter
The 2013's light body and floral, herbaceous whole-cluster character complement the truffle without demanding the structure of richer dishes.
Seared salmon with lentils and herbs
The wine's bright acidity and fine-grained tannins make it a rare red that works with oily fish - the mineral finish bridges salmon and lentil earthiness.
Reblochon or Morbier
The wine's light body and mineral freshness pair cleanly with semi-soft cheeses, where pungent washed rinds would overwhelm this more delicate expression.
Service & cellaring
- Serving Temp
- 58-62F (14-17C)
- Decanting
- Forty-five minutes to 1 hour in a narrow decanter. The 2013 is an aromatic grand cru - do not over-decant. More than 1.5 hours risks losing the delicate cherry blossom and incense notes. Serve at 60-62F. By 2028, 1 hour will remain ideal.
- Cellar Storage
- 55F (13C), 60-70% humidity, horizontal storage.
More from Clos de la Roche Grand Cru, France
Frequently Asked
When should I drink the 2013 Dujac Clos de la Roche?
The canonical CAI full drinking arc is 2023-2045. Within that arc, the peak window is 2028-2038. The full arc is the broader period the wine may drink well; the peak window is when it is most likely to show its best balance. Storage, fill level, cork condition, and preference can shift the decision. Taste before adding more air or holding the rest.
Does the 2013 Clos de la Roche need decanting?
Yes, but gently - 45 minutes to 1 hour in a narrow decanter opens the aromatics. The wine is light and aromatic; more than 1.5 hours risks losing the delicate cherry blossom and incense notes that define the vintage. Serve at 60-62F.
How does the 2013 differ from a typical Clos de la Roche?
In great vintages - 2010, 2015, 2019 - Clos de la Roche is dense, structured, and iron-driven, demanding a decade or more of patience. The 2013 is lighter and more fragrant, almost Chambolle-like in its delicacy. It is a more approachable expression of the grand cru, showing the site's aromatic potential rather than its structural power.
What food pairs best with this wine?
The 2013's lighter body and aromatic character call for delicate preparations: roast chicken, seared salmon, mushroom dishes, and semi-soft cheeses. Avoid heavy red meats that would overwhelm the wine's modest concentration. Think of it as a grand cru wearing premier cru clothes - elegant and precise rather than powerful.
What is the best alternative vintage of Dujac Clos de la Roche?
The 2019 is the structural opposite - a dense, concentrated grand cru built for the long term, still too young in 2026 and requiring patience through 2032. If you want power, seek the 2019. If you want aromatic charm and immediate pleasure, the 2013 is the vintage drinking right now.