Domaine Dujac   Echezeaux

2005 Echezeaux

By Domaine Dujac

2005 Echezeaux from Domaine Dujac, Burgundy, France

Amidst the crucible of vintages that have emerged from the hallowed vineyards of Burgundy, the 2005 Echezeaux from Domaine Dujac represents a convergence of exceptional climatic conditions and meticulous craftsmanship. This particular year stands out as a significant beacon for investors and collectors alike, as it heralded an era of remarkable balance and structure in Burgundy's storied terroir.

 

Vintage Virtuosity: A Complex Ensemble

The 2005 season presented near-ideal conditions - a temperate summer gently ripening the grapes and a fortuitous autumn prolonging hang-time just long enough to achieve an opulent concentration of flavours without tipping into excess. What transpired in the bottle is a symphony of complexity; ripe red cherries and blackcurrants mingle with subtle earthy undertones and whispers of finely-tuned oak. It is a testament to the meticulous viticulture and precision oenology practised by Domaine Dujac.

 

Progressing Gracefully: Investment Merits

With over two decades of maturation, this 2005 Echezeaux has journeyed through its evolutionary arc with grace. Tannins mellowed to silk have intertwined seamlessly with vibrant acidity - a signifier this wine is approaching the zenith of its drinkability window. It is this exact stage that makes the vintage not just palatable but an astute addition to an investor’s portfolio. Fine wine thrives on rarity and peak maturity, both of which the 2005 Echezeaux is currently offering in ample measure.

The conclusion reached after every contemplative sip leads to one irrefutable truth: the 2005 Echezeaux from Domaine Dujac encapsulates an extraordinary moment in time for Burgundy - captured immortally in the glass. For those looking to diversify their investment with a touch of vinous magnificence, this vintage represents an unmissable opportunity.

Market price (USD)

$13,460.00

12x75cl

Highest score

93

POP score

848.46

Scores and tasting notes

93

From their single parcel on the Vougeot side of the appellation, the Dujac 2005 Echezeaux leads with aromas of smoked meat, brine and jellied black raspberry. Impressively rich and decidedly sweet and liqueur-like on the palate, it reflects the low yields and relative surmaturite that Alec Seysses says characterized this parcel in 2005. Beneath the superficially impressive folds of fruit, there is smoky, meaty, subtly chalky depth of flavor and ample, fine-grained tannic structure. This impresses with its depth and rounded richness rather than with its interplay of flavors. The already rich array of crus at Domaine Dujac has recently been augmented on two fronts. The purchase (along with de Montille) of the Societe Civile du Clos de Thorey (Thomas-Moillard) has brought them a raft of choice parcels including three new grand cru holdings (for a staggering total of eight). Meanwhile, they have expanded their negociant arm (with control over harvest and green harvest a prerequisite) to supplement in particular their volumes of village-level wine. (Those wines – labeled “Dujac Fils & Pere” – are signified in the above listing with “FP”. In fact, due to a legal technicality, the 2005 vintage wines from the properties newly acquired by the domaine – but not subsequent vintages – will also read “Fils & Pere” rather than “Domaine”.) Even with California-trained oenologist Diana Seysses (nee Snowden) joining her husband Jeremy and in-laws Jacques and Alec, and with a new winery (though at the old address) I wonder at how they are able to keep up with the magnitude of their responsibilities. Yet despite so many parcels and vines new to them this year, the results are consistently outstanding and at times astounding. Much of the vinification – increasingly as one goes up the hierarchy of crus – was of whole clusters. Malos finished (finally) by November and the wines were bottle in December and January. Importer: The Sorting Table, Napa, CA; tel.(415) 491 4724

David Schildknecht - The Wine Advocate, 28 June 2007

Vintage performance