Vinous - Neal Martin (93-95)

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.

Vinous (91)

Deep red. High-pitched aromas of cassis, blackberry, violet and bitter chocolate; much blacker in character than the Porrets Saint-Georges and Nuits villages Rich, dense and sweet; impressively large-scaled for the vintage but with delicacy and definition. Intriguing notes of mint and chocolate. Seriously structured wine with excellent verve. The rather suave tannins reach the front teeth.

Vinous (91-94)

Dark red-ruby. Tight, medicinal aromas of black cherry, bitter chocolate and menthol. Very rich and deep, with captivating sweetness cut by medicinal menthol and minerals. Highly concentrated, dense and broad but uncompromisingly dry. Finishes very long and perfumed, with serious saline tension. This very impressive premier cru has a big tannic structure and may well close down after the bottling.

Decanter (94)

One of the denser and more concentrated wines in the Gouges line up in 2017, this comes from a 0.98ha site on famously poor soils. Showing good texture and weight with sweet raspberry and black cherry fruit, it's supported by acidity, medium-weight tannins and a spicy finish.

Decanter (94)

Les Vaucrains was hit twice by hail in 2018 - in a year when even a single storm was rare - which reduced yields in the vineyard. This can be a little austere in most vintages - the bony soils sit right on the bedrock (hence its name, meaning 'worth nothing') - but is way less so here. Sweet wild berry and strawberry jam flavours are underpinned by sinewy tannins and supporting acidity.

Burghound (91-94)

(from a 1.08 ha mix of younger and older vines that average about 50+ years of age). Discreet wood influence surrounds the notably ripe and fresh aromas of cassis, plum liqueur, earth and evident sauvage wisps. There is excellent richness and volume to the suave, round and seductive mid-palate of the broad-shouldered flavors that contrast markedly with the very firmly structured, youthfully austere and impressively persistent finish. As is usually the case, this is very compact and backward and a wine that will require extended aging to reach its peak. (91-94)/2036+

Burghound (91-94)

(from a 1.08 ha mix of younger and older vines that average about 50+ years of age). Discreet wood influence surrounds the notably ripe and fresh aromas of cassis, plum liqueur, earth and evident sauvage wisps. There is excellent richness and volume to the suave, round and seductive mid-palate of the broad-shouldered flavors that contrast markedly with the very firmly structured, youthfully austere and impressively persistent finish. As is usually the case, this is very compact and backward and a wine that will require extended aging to reach its peak. (91-94)/2036+

Jasper Morris Inside Burgundy (93-96)

Incredibly dense purple rather than black. While the bouquet follows a similar refrain to others in the Gouges 2020 line-up, there is more natural class from the vineyard site below. The clear limestone feel comes up through the middle and the palate is entirely red fruit. This one will really work. Refined tannins here. And the right acid balance. Excellent. Tasted: November 2021

Vinous (92-94)

The 2021 Nuits Saint-Georges Les Vaucrains 1er Cru has the most floral and airy bouquet from Gouges: perfumed wilted rose petal and peony scents, shimmering red fruit and citrus peel. The palate is medium-bodied with fine-boned tannins, beautifully balanced and the archetypal "transparent" Pinot Noir on the finish. Not deep or powerful, one that will be difficult to resist when young.

Jasper Morris Inside Burgundy (94-96)

(5 Star Wine) 30% new wood. Fresh mid purple. The bouquet is wonderfully lifted, Antoine explains they use a particularly light hand with this cuvee to avoid the potential austerity. The acidity is fine and the tannins are ripe, while there is still that clear backbone to the fruit which Vaucrains should have. Very persistent, and such high-class fruit. Drink from 2032-2040. Tasted: November 2023.

Vinous (89+)

The 2019 Nuits Saint-Georges Village was completely destemmed. I had trouble getting my head around the bouquet; it came across quite reduced (which is not uncommon with young Gouges wines), missing some delineation and a bit blocky. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannins and offers commendable vigor, moderate depth and candied red fruit laced with orange peel toward the finish. Hopefully the aromatics will knit together with bottle age.

Vinous (89+)

The 2019 Nuits Saint-Georges Village was completely destemmed. I had trouble getting my head around the bouquet; it came across quite reduced (which is not uncommon with young Gouges wines), missing some delineation and a bit blocky. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannins and offers commendable vigor, moderate depth and candied red fruit laced with orange peel toward the finish. Hopefully the aromatics will knit together with bottle age.

Burghound (88-90)

(from Les Plateaux, Belle Croix, Les Fleuri res, Les Crots and Les Chaillots). A mentholated top note is present on the markedly ripe aromas of cassis, earth and bitter chocolate. The rich, velvet-textured and concentrated medium-bodied flavors possess pretty good verve and length on the slightly warm finale. This will need to develop better depth to merit the upper-end of my projected range. (88-90)/2026+

Burghound (88-90)

(from Les Plateaux, Belle Croix, Les Fleuri res, Les Crots and Les Chaillots). A mentholated top note is present on the markedly ripe aromas of cassis, earth and bitter chocolate. The rich, velvet-textured and concentrated medium-bodied flavors possess pretty good verve and length on the slightly warm finale. This will need to develop better depth to merit the upper-end of my projected range. (88-90)/2026+

Burghound (88)

A more deeply pitched and markedly earthier nose reveals notes of both red and dark currant along with a hint of the sauvage. The rich, velvety and caressing medium weight flavors are almost easy-going and delicate on the delicious and lightly structured finale. This delicious effort is definitely not a classic Nuits but it’s attractive all the same.

Burghound (88)

A more deeply pitched and markedly earthier nose reveals notes of both red and dark currant along with a hint of the sauvage. The rich, velvety and caressing medium weight flavors are almost easy-going and delicate on the delicious and lightly structured finale. This delicious effort is definitely not a classic Nuits but it’s attractive all the same.

Burghound (88)

A more deeply pitched and markedly earthier nose reveals notes of both red and dark currant along with a hint of the sauvage. The rich, velvety and caressing medium weight flavors are almost easy-going and delicate on the delicious and lightly structured finale. This delicious effort is definitely not a classic Nuits but it’s attractive all the same.

Jasper Morris Inside Burgundy (90-92)

Racked, and thus fully blended, to be bottled by the end of November. Mid purple, with a perfumed dark red fruit. Vigorous, well-balanced tannins, and good but not trenchant acidity. A fine long finish which remains fresh even though the fruit is clearly ripe. Very persistent. Drink from 2029-2037. Tasted: November 2023.

Immerse in the pleasures of the exceptional Henri Naudin-Ferrand Nuits-Saint-George 1er Cru Damodes 2016. Made by renowned vintner Henri Naudin-Ferrand, this prestigious Burgundy red embodies the richness of its French terroir. Crafted in Nuits-Saint-George, a beloved commune in Côte de Nuits, this wine reverberates with quality and tradition. Naudin-Ferrand's respect for natural practices delivers a wine revels in its origins, displaying an eloquent expression of nuanced Pinot Noir grapes.

Each outline yields to an opulent, yet balanced palate - rife with deep, dark fruits and subtly-contrasting spice. Aging for 18 months in French oak barrels brings matured refinement and whispers of complex layers yet to unfold. Henri Naudin-Ferrand Nuits-Saint-George 1er Cru Damodes 2016 is a wine to be savoured slowly, unfurling a symphony of earthy sophistication from first scent to lasting finish. An ideal choice for seasoned aficionados and collectors alike.

The Hospices de Nuits Nuits-Saint-Georges Les Saint-Julien Les Plateaux Cuvee Claude Poyen 2019, is an exuberant example of a refined Burgundy wine, hailing from the illustrious vineyards of Nuits-Saint-Georges. This consummate wine bears the dedication of Claude Poyen, a passionate benefactor of Hospices de Nuits.

Each drop embosom the meticulous vinification process that respects the integrity and singularity of each parcel, leaving the terroir's authentic expression untouched. The wine is aged in carefully selected oak barrels, resulting in a harmonious blend of structure and finesse.

The copper hue of the wine shimmers with ruby undertones leading to an aromatic cornucopia of blackberries and wild cherries, accented with forest floor and wet slate notes. Well-integrated tannins support an elegant structure, offering a tasting experience that continues to unfold on the palate. The Hospices de Nuits Nuits-Saint-Georges Les Saint-Julien Les Plateaux Cuvee Claude Poyen 2019 is not just a wine, it's a testament to Burgundy's timeless winemaking heritage.

Wine Advocate (91-93)

The 2013 Nuits Saint Georges 1er Cru Les Murgers has a cohesive bouquet with red currant, raspberry and just a touch of tinned peach, quite Vosne-like in style. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannin, the oak needing a little more time to fully integrate. But it is endowed with a pleasant, endearing spiciness, almost fieriness that lends the finish intrigue. This has finesse and focus, constituting and supremely well-crafted 2013.

Vinous (90)

Full medium red. Wild aromas of strawberry and smoke plus a touch of meaty reduction. Fat, sweet and creamy in the middle, showing excellent volume for the year but not the verve or thrust of the Vosne villages. The wine's tannins coat the teeth and dry the sides of the tongue. (This wine was aged in 30% new oak, vs. 15% to 20% for the village wines.) My score assumes that this wine will absorb its oak element with time in the cellar.

Wine Advocate (91-93)

Wafting from the glass with aromas of cassis, red fruit compote, potpourri and smoked meats, the 2018 Nuits-Saint-Georges 1er Cru Les Murgers is medium to full-bodied, gourmand and textural, with a deep core of fruit framed by rich structuring tannins and ripe acids. This is a dramatic but nicely balanced Murgers from Hudelot-Noellat.

Wine Advocate (91-93+)

Unwinding in the glass with aromas of raspberries, cherries, sweet spices, rose petals and forest floor, the 2019 Nuits-Saint-Georges 1er Cru Les Murgers is medium to full-bodied, concentrated and lively, with a deep, layered, elegantly muscular profile and a long, penetrating finish.