2009 Clos de la Roche

The 2009 Clos de la Roche is tense and energetic. Muscular and clenched at this stage, the wine flowers with notable depth in its dark fruit, spices, earthiness and minerals. Saline notes on the finish add proportion and harmony. Tasted from barrel. Anticipated maturity: 2019-2029. David Duband farms 17 hectares of vineyards, 10 of which are in metayage with Francois Feuillet. Readers may find these wines under either Domaine David Duband or Domaine Francois Feuillet. Duband has farmed biodynamically for the last five years. He describes 2009 as an easy harvest with beautiful fruit that required minimal sorting. Duband is increasingly using a higher percentage of whole bunches, ranging from 35% for the villages to 100% for the Grand Crus. Except as noted, the 2009s were bottled in February 2011. Various American importers, including: Skurnik Wines, Syosset, NY; tel. (516) 677-9300, Chelsea Ventures, Chicago, IL; tel. (847) 920-5052, The Source, San Francisco, CA.