1988 Clos St Denis
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Tasting notes
The 1988 Clos Saint-Denis Grand Cru repeated its stellar showing after blowing its audience away at Tour d’Argent. It has a clean, precise bouquet with thrilling focus, conveying so much energy that your senses light up at first contact. Mineral-infused red fruit bursts from the nose and never relinquishes its intensity over 20 or 30 minutes. The palate is medium-bodied, armed with filigreed tannins and pitch-perfect acidity, and lightly spiced. Though it still comes across as quite broody and, in this case, slightly reserved on the finish, it has a trick up its sleeve in the form of a touch of menthol on the aftertaste. This is one of the finest Clos Saint-Denis that Jacques Seysses ever produced. Tasted at the Clos Saint-Denis vertical at Hide restaurant.
Critic scores
Average Score
Robert Parker
Neal Martin
More reviews and scores
The 1988 Clos Saint-Denis Grand Cru is a little darker in colour than the 1985 poured alongside. But maybe, just maybe this is even better. The aromatics are captivating: blackberry, wild hedgerow, Earl Grey and hints of an estuary when the tide has ebbed out. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannin, showing more density and concentration than the 1985 whilst retaining some otherworldly degree of tension and backbone. It builds towards a structured, almost masculine finish but what finesse and refinement, what ineffable precision. Leaving you with hints of tealeaf and a touch of black pepper on the aftertaste, this is a stunning Clos Saint-Denis, perhaps one of the best that I have ever tasted. Tasted at Tour d’Argent restaurant in Paris.
About the producer
Domaine Dujac is one of Burgundy’s most famous wine estates. It crafts red Burgundies with a distinct style, from a fantastic array of vineyard plots, including seven Grands Crus.