2003 Echezeaux
By Domaine Dujac
2003 Echezeaux from Domaine Dujac, Burgundy, France
The enigmatic vintage of 2003 continues to engender discussion amongst oenophiles, particularly the red Burgundies that emerged in this year of climatic extremities. At the core of such discussions often lies the 2003 Echezeaux from Domaine Dujac, a wine that encapsulates both the challenges and triumphs of its vintage.
Investment Worthy: The Rarity of Excellence Amid Adversity
In 2003 Burgundy was struck by an unprecedented heatwave, a challenge that tested the mettle of even the most proficient vignerons. Domaine Dujac's adeptness at navigating this torrid season is manifest in their Echezeaux. Eschewing any propensity towards desiccation, this remarkable cuvée displays a voluptuous fruit profile adorned with subtle tertiary nuances.
A Vintage Defined by Extraordinary Conditions
Many purists believed such warmth could not possibly yield the subtlety Burgundy is famed for—this Echezeaux proves otherwise. Nuanced aromas of ripe cherry and blackcurrant tease the nose, harmonizing with whiffs of clove and humidity-soaked forest floor—that distinct ‘sous-bois’ complexity one cherishes in mature Pinot Noir. On the palate, Domaine Dujac's masterful vinification shines; tannins—once formidable—have evolved into whispers, guiding flavours across the tongue with balletic grace.
The climatic rigor of 2003 endowed this wine with a unique character; it boasts the concentration and intensity rarely seen in this appellation. Yet it remains decidedly Burgundian—with an ethereal lightness dancing through its muscular frame.
Cellar investors often seek the 2003 Echezeaux from Domaine Dujac as a testament to both its longevity and its representation of a vintage that defied expectations. Though drinking splendidly now, there's an underlying structure suggesting potential for continued evolution—a characteristic that keeps connoisseurs searching and investors intrigued.
Summation: A Testament to Terroir and Tenacity
To sip the 2003 Echezeaux from Domaine Dujac is to understand resilience; it is an exemplar of how extraordinary wines can arise from the most challenging conditions when human tenacity collaborates with an exceptional terroir. In investment terms, its story is as compelling as its palate—offering a narrative that is as richly layered as the wine itself.
Market price (CAD)
$30,620.00
12x75cl
Highest score
88
POP score
2300
Scores and tasting notes
The 2003 Echézeaux Grand Cru from Domaine Dujac was tasted blind alongside the 2003 Grands Echézeaux from Domaine de la Romanée-Conti. It has a more powerful bouquet compared to Aubert de Villaine's wines, although I was not the only one to feel that there was a little brettanomyces and it felt more forward and mature. The palate displays commendable depth and the fruit is dark in color: mulberry, black plum and fig, though there was some VA hampering the finish. This bottle had been acquired on release, but I wonder if there are better examples out there?
Neal Martin - The Wine Advocate, 28 June 2015