The producer
With 10ha of meticulously cared-for, organic vineyards predominantly in Gevrey-Chambertin, and holdings in four of the Grand Crus, Dugat-Py has developed a cult following worldwide. This is amazing on two counts – they only started bottling their own wines in 1989, and the wines aim at elegance rather than opulence. They also have holdings in Pommard and Vosne-Romanee.
Meticulous work in the vineyards with an average age nearing 7 years is followed by low intervention winemaking. The surprise is the use of almost all new oak for the ranked crus, but this is handled so judiciously it results in balance and harmony.
Perhaps there is more to great winemaking in this approach because these are extremely polished wines that combine concentration with extreme finesse and elegance.
The wine
Dugat-Py owns the 3.99 hectares of 70- to 80-year-old vines in the Pommard La Levriere lieu-dit. The vineyard is farmed organically, and the wine made in a traditional minimal intervention way, with 16-18 months in oak casks, of which 80% new. This is a dark fruited wine, with earthy smoke and coffee complexity, firm yet silky tannins, and a rich velvety texture.
