Domaine Dujac
Clos de la Roche Grand Cru
Clos de la Roche Grand Cru, France
2019
Vintage
Varietal
Pinot Noir
ABV
Where it is, June 2026
Too Young: holding.
In 2026, the 2019 Dujac Clos de la Roche is one year from its drinking window opening and still closed to serious pleasure. This is a powerful, structured wine from an exceptional hot, dry vintage - concentrated, tannic, and locked in primary concentration that has not yet begun to reveal the secondary and tertiary layers that will define it in the 2030s and beyond. The drinking window opens in 2027, but the peak does not arrive until 2032. Do not open this bottle now. At 55F in a dark cellar, it is building silently toward something remarkable - one of the finest Dujac Clos de la Roche expressions in recent memory, the 2019 vintage's dense concentration amplifying this grand cru's already formidable mineral structure.
Related vintages
- 2015Très Vieilles Vignes Mazis-Chambertin Grand Cru
Mazis-Chambertin Grand Cru, France · Peak 2027-2044
- 2015Hommage à Jean Morin Clos de Vougeot Grand Cru
Clos Vougeot Grand Cru, France · Peak 2028-2043
- 2015Chambertin Clos de Bèze Grand Cru
Chambertin-Clos de Bèze Grand Cru, France · Peak 2035-2040
- 2020Clos de la Roche Grand Cru
Clos de la Roche Grand Cru, France · Peak 2030-2048
- 2018Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru 'Aux Malconsorts'
Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru 'Malconsorts', France · Peak 2029-2045
The ‘19 Clos de la Roche Grand Cru.
The 2019 Dujac Clos de la Roche arrives from one of the Cote de Nuits' finest modern vintages - too young to open before 2027, built for decades of cellar evolution through 2058.
Drinking window
Tasting note
The 2019 Dujac Clos de la Roche is a wine of commanding presence: deep ruby with a violet rim, the nose complex and multidimensional - dark cherry, incense, dried rose, wild herbs, iron ore, and a haunting whole-cluster purity that is immediately recognizable as Dujac. The palate is full and concentrated, the 2019's impressive structure very much on display: silky but purposeful tannins, beautiful depth of dark fruit, and a finish of exceptional mineral persistence that runs on iron and stone. Opening this before 2027 wastes its potential - the tannins need time to integrate and the secondary complexity has not yet begun its emergence. A grand cru built for patience.
The 2019 vintage
The 2019 Cote de Nuits was shaped by a hot, dry summer that produced concentrated, deeply structured wines - Wine Spectator rated the region a 97 (Classic) and described the wines as 'concentrated and complex and ageworthy reds, with black fruit flavors and excellent structure.' The season's heat rose steadily from spring through September without the sudden crushing spikes that can strip freshness from hot vintages. For Clos de la Roche, where the grand cru's iron-rich, well-draining limestone soils impose a natural concentration discipline, 2019 produced wines denser and more structured than 2010 or 2016 at comparable stages of development.
About Domaine Dujac
Domaine Dujac's Clos de la Roche grand cru holding in Morey-Saint-Denis is one of the estate's most powerful sites - a clear contrast to the floral finesse of their Chambolle and Vosne parcels. Whole-cluster fermentation with a high proportion of retained stems, a defining element of Dujac's house approach since founder Jacques Seysses established it in 1968, lends Clos de la Roche an unusual aromatic complexity: incense, dried herb, and mineral purity alongside the grand cru's inherent iron-driven concentration. Bottled without fining or filtration, the wines express full terroir.
From the cellar: pair with
Wild boar with black truffle and root puree
The wine's dense tannins and concentrated dark fruit stand up to the gaminess of wild boar, while the whole-cluster incense and iron complexity echoes the truffle's earthiness.
Venison loin with black berry reduction
The structured tannins and deep iron-mineral finish of this grand cru provide backbone for the venison's richness and echo the dark berry sauce.
Aged Epoisses washed with Marc de Bourgogne
The wine's concentrated fruit and mineral backbone balance the washed-rind pungency and marc intensity - a pairing that rewards boldness.
Service & cellaring
- Serving Temp
- 62-65F (17-18C)
- Decanting
- When opened after 2027, decant 3 hours minimum in a wide-based decanter. The 2019 is a structured, tannic grand cru that needs extended air to open. After 2032, 2 hours will suffice. Do not serve cold - this wine wants 63-65F to release its aromatics fully.
- Cellar Storage
- 55F (13C), 60-70% humidity, horizontal storage away from light and vibration.
The drinking window on this bottle is calculated with the Cellared Ageability Index (CAI) v1.0, a 10-factor model. Try the free drinking window calculator on any wine, or read when to drink wine for the practical signals.
More from Clos de la Roche Grand Cru, France
Frequently Asked
When should I open the 2019 Dujac Clos de la Roche?
The drinking window opens in 2027 and the peak runs from 2032 through 2048. In 2026, the wine is one year from its window and should not be opened for serious drinking. Patience of at minimum two to three years is required; six years would reveal the full picture. This is a cellar investment for the mid-2030s.
How long should I decant this wine?
When opened after 2027, decant for 3 hours minimum in a wide-based decanter. The 2019 is a structured, tannic Clos de la Roche that needs extended air to open. After 2032, 2 hours will suffice. Use a wide-based decanter to maximize surface area. Serve at 63-65F to release the aromatics fully.
What foods pair best with this grand cru?
The 2019's dense tannins and concentrated dark fruit call for rich, structured preparations: wild boar, venison, roasted duck, cassoulet, aged hard cheeses. The wine's concentration and mineral power mean it can handle the most robust flavors without losing its character. Avoid delicate fish or white meat.
How should I cellar the 2019 Clos de la Roche?
Store at 55F (13C) horizontally with 60-70% humidity in the dark away from vibration. The 2019 is a long-term proposition - it can cellar comfortably through 2058. Do not disturb the bottle in the years before planned opening; sediment will form and needs time to settle before serving. Stand the bottle 24 hours before opening.
How does Clos de la Roche compare to the Dujac Malconsorts?
Clos de la Roche is a grand cru vs. Malconsorts' premier cru classification, and it shows: Clos de la Roche is denser, more structured, and more iron-driven. The Malconsorts offers more aromatic floral complexity from the Vosne hillside. Both reward long cellaring but the Clos de la Roche is built on a grander, longer arc.