2022, Domaine Henri Gouges, NUITS-SAINT-GEORGES, 1er Cru, 'Les Saint Georges'

The 2022 Nuits Saint-Georges Les Saint-Georges 1er Cru has a very complex bouquet, a mix of red and black fruit, crushed flowers, and hints of spice coming through with aeration. This seems to "grow" in the glass. The palate is medium-bodied with silky smooth tannins. It's very pure, so pure that it almost disguises the backbone of this Les Saint-Georges, gaining depth towards the finish with touches of pain d'épice and white pepper. An excellent NSG that will repay cellaring. 93-95 Neal Martin, Vinous (2023).

Le 'grand cru' de Nuits, in the estimation of Grégoire Gouges, his parcel of 1.1 hectares in Les Saint-Georges, has produced an arrestingly delicious wine, with forward raspberry and black plum fruit aromas with a floral edge and a noticeable saline edge and notes of earth. The texture is tannic but not overly so, and the finish lingers invitingly. The grapes are destemmed but left whole and fermented at a reasonably warm temperature without active extraction by submerging the cap. It ages over two winters in cask before bottling. 95 Charles Curtis MW, Decanter (2023).

Mid purple. This is almost quite raisiny but just keeps on the fresher side. At first more in supe ripe cherries, but the characteristic darker plum fruit comes up behind. Still some resolution of the tannins required but this is a substantial wine which is still sleeping. This should work out well unless the degree of ripeness dominates in later life. **** 92-96 Jasper Morris, Inside Burgundy (2023).

This is spicier still with its broad-ranging nose of red and dark pinot fruit, violet and herbal tea, all of which is trimmed by soft wood influence. There is a bit more minerality present on the vibrant and lavishly rich medium weight flavours that possess excellent power that carries over to the firm and tautly muscular finish that is balanced and long plus it's less austere than usual. Lovely. 91-94 Allen Meadows, Burghound (2024).

Drinking Window: 2027 - 2050