Domaine Dujac
Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru 'Les Beaux Monts'
Vosne-Romanée
2018
Vintage
Varietal
Pinot Noir
ABV
13.0
Where it is, July 2026
Approaching Peak: drinkable, but best years are ahead.
In 2026, the Domaine Dujac Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru Les Beaux Monts 2018 is at year one of a pre-peak window that opened in 2025, with the peak arc running from 2029 through 2040. This opening pre-peak position means the wine is technically accessible and showing well in the glass, while the full aromatic complexity of a mature Dujac premier cru from this warm, concentrated vintage remains three to four years from full expression. The 2018 Côtes de Nuits vintage is rated 93 Outstanding by Wine Spectator in an assessment that describes the reds as big, dense, fleshy and fruity with youthful appeal, noting that most show freshness and balance despite the warm conditions. For Domaine Dujac's Les Beaux Monts specifically, the combination of the 2018 vintage's inherent fruit density and Jeremy Seysses's characteristically high whole-cluster fermentation has produced a wine with unusual structural complexity: the whole-cluster character adds a distinctive stem-spice aromatic layer that provides freshness and complexity even in a warm vintage, and the result is a pre-peak wine with more aromatic development than the vintage's straightforward ripeness might suggest. Those opening bottles in 2026 will find a wine of considerable aromatic pleasure and structural integrity, but the most compelling drinking is ahead. Compare with [Domaine Dujac Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru Les Beaux Monts 2022](/wines/domaine-dujac/vosne-romanee-1er-cru-les-beaux-monts/2022) to see how the same vineyard expresses itself in a superior vintage at an earlier stage of development. For more Burgundy, see [Burgundy wines](/wines/region/burgundy) and the [Pinot Noir varietal guide](/wines/varietal/pinot-noir).
The ‘18 Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru 'Les Beaux Monts'.
Domaine Dujac's Vosne-Romanée Les Beaux Monts 2018 opening its pre-peak window: the 2018 vintage's fleshy, generous Burgundy character gives this whole-cluster premier cru unusual approachability now, three years ahead of its 2029 peak.
Drinking window
Tasting note
The Domaine Dujac Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru Les Beaux Monts 2018 pours a deep ruby with a vibrant, youthful purple-tinged rim that signals the 2018 vintage's exceptional fruit density and the wine's first year of accessible development. On the nose, the aromatics open with characteristic Dujac whole-cluster complexity: red and black fruit lead, followed by the distinctive stem-spice and forest-floor aromatic layer that Jeremy Seysses's high-percentage whole-cluster fermentation consistently delivers, with a floral lift of violet and rose that is characteristic of this premier cru's sandier upper-slope soils. The 2018 vintage's inherent density and concentration is apparent in the aromatic depth: this is a Vosne-Romanée premier cru with more weight and aromatic intensity than lighter vintages produce, and the fine tannins and bright acidity provide the structural counterweight that prevents the 2018's generous fruit from becoming blowsy. On the palate, the wine is broad and plush for a pre-peak Dujac, the whole-cluster character providing spice and grip that the vintage's natural richness could otherwise lack, and the finish is long with the mineral precision that Les Beaux Monts' upper-slope position on the Vosne côte reliably delivers.
The 2018 vintage
The 2018 Burgundy vintage was defined by an exceptionally hot, dry summer that produced wines of unusual density and fleshy concentration for the Côte de Nuits, rated 93 Outstanding by Wine Spectator with the vintage character described as big, dense, fleshy and fruity reds with youthful appeal, with most showing freshness and balance despite conditions that led some wines to verge on jammy. The growing season saw significant drought stress through July and August, with the Côte de Nuits experiencing heat spikes that produced smaller, more concentrated berries than usual but compressed the acidity that gives Burgundy its aging structure in more balanced vintages. For Les Beaux Monts specifically, the premier cru's upper-slope position with sandier, better-drained soils provided slightly more heat tolerance than the lower appellation sites, and Dujac's early-picking philosophy avoided the over-ripeness trap that the summer's extreme heat created for slower-harvesting producers in Vosne-Romanée.
About Domaine Dujac
Domaine Dujac was founded in Morey-Saint-Denis by Jacques Seysses in 1967 and is now run by his son Jeremy Seysses alongside his wife Diana Snowden Seysses, who brings additional winemaking expertise from a California background. The domaine is one of Burgundy's great whole-cluster fermentation practitioners: Jeremy Seysses typically uses 80 to 100 percent of stems in fermentation, a technique that imparts a distinctive aromatic complexity of stem spice, forest floor, and aromatic lift that sets Dujac wines apart even from neighboring producers working the same premier cru and grand cru vineyards. The domaine holds approximately 0.64 hectares in Les Beaux Monts, using a regimen of minimal intervention in the cellar, extended maceration with gentle cap management, and aging in a proportion of new oak calibrated to complement rather than overwhelm the terroir's natural character.
From the cellar: pair with
Roasted quail with mushroom duxelles and truffle sauce
The Dujac Les Beaux Monts 2018's whole-cluster spice character and the 2018 vintage's fleshy fruit density find ideal expression alongside roasted game birds; the mushroom duxelles mirrors the wine's forest-floor aromatic register while the truffle sauce amplifies the whole-cluster complexity on the finish.
Duck confit with lentils du Puy and lardon
Duck's moderate fat content and savory richness provide the protein counterweight that the 2018's plush, fruit-driven mid-palate requires; the lentils and lardon introduce a savory mineral salinity that echoes Les Beaux Monts' upper-slope limestone character.
Aged Comté or Beaufort with honey and toasted walnuts
The crystalline savory complexity of aged mountain cheese complements the Les Beaux Monts 2018's red fruit and stem-spice aromatic register at this pre-peak stage, with the honey creating a counterpoint to the whole-cluster tannin grip and the walnuts echoing the wine's earthy mineral finish.
Service & cellaring
- Serving Temp
- 60-64F (16-18C)
- Decanting
- Decant for 60 to 90 minutes. At pre-peak stage, the Les Beaux Monts 2018 benefits from air exposure to open the whole-cluster spice and forest-floor complexity that is characteristic of Dujac's winemaking approach but requires time in the glass to fully emerge. The 2018 vintage's generous fruit will begin showing immediately, but the secondary aromatic layers from whole-cluster fermentation develop fully with 60 to 90 minutes of air.
- Cellar Storage
- 55F (13C), 60-70% humidity, horizontal storage.
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 Vosne-Romanée
Frequently Asked
Is the Domaine Dujac Vosne-Romanée Les Beaux Monts 2018 ready to drink now?
In 2026, the Les Beaux Monts 2018 is in its opening pre-peak year, with the drinking window technically open since 2025 and the peak arc running from 2029 through 2040. The 2018 vintage's inherently fleshy, approachable fruit character means the wine is showing well in the glass now: you will find generous red and black fruit with whole-cluster spice complexity and a plush mid-palate that makes this more accessible than a leaner vintage would produce at the same pre-peak stage. Those opening in 2026 should decant for 60 to 90 minutes.
How does the Dujac Les Beaux Monts 2018 compare to the 2022?
The 2018 and 2022 are very different vintage expressions of the same Les Beaux Monts premier cru. The 2022, from a 96 Classic vintage, offers greater structural tension, brighter acidity, and more classical Burgundy aromatic precision; the 2018, from a 93 Outstanding vintage, delivers more flesh, fruit density, and immediate approachability but with less of the needle-sharp definition that makes 2022 Burgundy so precise. See [Domaine Dujac Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru Les Beaux Monts 2022](/wines/domaine-dujac/vosne-romanee-1er-cru-les-beaux-monts/2022) for direct comparison.
How long should I decant the Domaine Dujac Les Beaux Monts 2018?
Decant for 60 to 90 minutes. At pre-peak stage, the Les Beaux Monts 2018 benefits from air exposure to open the whole-cluster spice and forest-floor complexity characteristic of Dujac's winemaking approach. The 2018 vintage's generous fruit will show immediately, but the secondary aromatic layers develop fully with 60 to 90 minutes in a wide-bowl decanter.
How long can I cellar the Dujac Vosne-Romanée Les Beaux Monts 2018?
The peak window runs from 2029 through 2040 and the hard decline date is 2047, giving collectors a fourteen-year prime drinking window. The 2018 vintage's unusual density and whole-cluster complexity give this wine genuine cellaring potential despite being from a warm, fleshy vintage. Collectors who hold through 2029 to 2035 will find a wine that has developed significant additional aromatic complexity beyond what the pre-peak 2026 expression delivers.
What makes Les Beaux Monts a notable Vosne-Romanée premier cru?
Les Beaux Monts occupies the upper-mid slope of the Vosne-Romanée côte, with sandier, more gravelly soils than the richer lower premier crus. The site's position and soil composition produce Pinot Noir of aromatic finesse and upper-slope mineral precision rather than the more powerful, structured expression of deeper soils. In Dujac's hands, with high whole-cluster fermentation, the site produces wines of considerable aromatic complexity that punch above the premier cru weight class relative to village-level and many premier cru peers in the commune.