Dugat-Py DUGAT-PY Gevrey-Chambertin Vieilles Vignes 2019

Description

The Gevrey-Chambertin Vieilles Vignes 2019 by Dugat-Py is exuberant, with a bouquet of red and black fruit (plum, black currant) and undergrowth. On the palate the wine is intense, powerful and soft. It is just entering its drinking window supported by a refined tannic texture and good freshness.

Dugat-Py is a high-class Domaine de Gevrey-Chambertin that has risen to prominence over the past 10 years. It was run for many years by Pierre Dugat and surprisingly only began bottling the estate in 1989. It is now run by Pierre’s son, Bernard, who is recognized as one of the most talented winemakers in the Côte. The Domaine consists of 5 hectares of vineyards in different Premier Cru and 3 Grand Cru sites. Bernard Dugat-Py, his wife Joscelyne and son Loïc are based in the Aulmônerie, whose cellars were built in the 12th century to store wine for the Abbey of St Benigné in Dijon. With enthusiastic praise coming mostly from the other side of the Atlantic, this is perhaps an even more cult domain than that of Bernard’s cousin Claude Dugat.

The vines are for the most part extremely old, averaging 65 years throughout the domaine, and all pruning is done by hand, while a horse is used to plow some of the vineyards. Replanting takes place with selections from their own vine stock, never with clones. The domaine has been completely organic since 2003 while his son Loïc has done biodynamic work with the consultant Paul Masson. The wines are vinified with the least possible intervention and are bottled unrefined and unfiltered. “I don’t like opulent wines, I like elegant wines,” says Dugat. As a result, the wines are concentrated, yet extremely elegant and well balanced. The wines are very accessible in their youth but give their best with 5-8 years of bottle aging.