Domaine Dujac 2024: Whole-Cluster Burgundy with Poise and Grip
Domaine Dujac has updated its tasting routine—smaller groups, a new cellar-side room, less misty romance, more journalistic clarity. It’s very modern Burgundy: less candlelit mystery, more controlled conditions. What hasn’t changed is the domaine’s conviction. In 2024, that conviction centered on stems. As Steen Öhman notes, “The decision to go mainly whole cluster in 2024 was both brave and successful.” — Steen Öhman, Winehog
Context matters. By Öhman’s read, 2024 red Burgundy isn’t in the same league as the blockbuster trio of 2022–2025. But Dujac knows its lane—supple fruit, lifted aromatics, and that signature stem-borne spice—and leaned into it. The result sounds like classic Dujac structure with a cooler-year nerve.
Style Snapshot
- Grape: Pinot Noir
- Region/Appellations: Côte de Nuits, Burgundy (Morey‑Saint‑Denis, Chambolle‑Musigny, Nuits‑Saint‑Georges)
- Approach: Significant whole‑cluster fermentation for aromatic lift and fine, sappy structure
- Profile: Dry; medium body; emphasis on red fruit, spice, florals, and mineral drive rather than sheer weight
- Cellaring vibe: Built to settle in bottle; think patience over instant gratification
What the Source Tasted (and Why It Matters)
Öhman’s visit (November 20, 2025) hits the village sweet spot where Dujac often shines. Three early read-ins tell a clear story:
Nuits‑Saint‑Georges Aux Cras (négoce) 2024 — A touch reductive out of the gate with iron-tinged minerality and good midpalate intensity for the year. That lines up with the Aux Cras profile many of us know: more earth and sinew than silk, especially young, with stems adding aromatic lift instead of heft.
Chambolle‑Musigny 2024 (domaine) — Chambolle is usually Burgundy’s ballerina, but 2024 here reads a bit more extracted. The twist is Dujac’s stems, which seem to refine the frame rather than perfume it to oblivion. Öhman’s shorthand—“Powerful rather than delicate”—fits the vintage’s energy. If you love Chambolle’s rose-petal reputation, expect a slightly sturdier stance this year.
Morey‑Saint‑Denis 2024 (domaine) — The most “Dujac” of the trio. Silky, hedonistic, and elegant—words that echo the house style even in a more modest year. Or as Öhman puts it: “This is a textbook Dujac.” — Steen Öhman, Winehog
Whole Cluster 101 (and Why It Helps in 2024)
Whole-cluster (fermenting with some or all stems) is Dujac DNA. Stems can add floral lift, peppery spice, and a fine-boned tannin profile. In riper years, they bring freshness. In tighter years, they can add complexity without pushing alcohol or oak. 2024 seems like a prime case study: less raw opulence than 2022, but more aromatic detail and lattice-like structure thanks to the stems.
This is where expectations benefit from calibration. If you’re chasing lush, saturated fruit, you may prefer prior vintages. If you like tension, perfume, and a savory echo, 2024 could be your groove. Burgundy’s magic isn’t about volume; it’s about clarity—and Dujac’s stems are basically turning up the treble.
Buy Intent: How to Approach Dujac 2024
Villages wines look especially savvy: the Chambolle‑Musigny for structure and punch; the Morey‑Saint‑Denis for that classic house silk; and the NSG Aux Cras if you want darker mineral tones. Expect them to reward patience—open a bit early and you’ll meet reduction and edges; wait and you’ll likely get violets, savory spice, and a more seamless feel.
For collectors, the note isn’t “pass”—it’s “place them correctly.” Dujac’s 2024s read like a study in balance more than brawn. If you live for that interplay of fruit and stem spice, this will scratch the itch.
Best occasion: A focused dinner with fellow Burgundy fans; a blind flight where texture and perfume take center stage.
Best pairing direction: Think savory and umami over sweetness—roast duck, soy‑glazed mushrooms, cedar‑planked salmon, or herby roast chicken. Keep sauces light and let the aromatics lead.
One last note about the tasting format: Dujac’s move to intimate, cellar-adjacent sessions may nix a bit of old-school charm, but it gives tasters cleaner reads on the wines. As Öhman admits, the shift “works well for my journalistic side,” and honesty beats theatrics when we’re talking cellaring decisions.
In short: 2024 is a stem-forward chapter in Dujac’s story. Not the loudest vintage—just the one with the most articulate handwriting.
Source: https://winehog.org/visit-tasting-2024-domaine-dujac-71835/
