Domaine Henri Gouges Nuits-Saint-Georges 2016 Red Burgundy Pre-Arrival Offer

A fresh, cool and distinctly earthy array of red and dark currant precedes punch and sleek middle weight flavors that offer fine length. This is less rustic than it usually is and it’s worth considering. (86-89)/2020+ 100% Nuits fruit from vines on the plateau, which give a more elegant wine than vines from the lower sections.

A more deeply pitched nose is composed by notes of plum, dark raspberry, earth and a hint of wood. There is excellent volume to the relatively sleek medium-bodied flavors that possess plenty of sappy dry extract, all wrapped in a firm finish that is also less rustic than usual. This too is worth checking out. 2022+ From 4 different parcels scattered above and below the 1ers and the blend of vines averages about 35 years of age; in 2016 it also includes the production from Les Chaignots and Les Chênes Carteaux.

Bright dark red. Inviting aromas of red and black cherry, minerals and earth. At once ripe and cool in the mouth, with slightly medicinal blueberry, blackberry and licorice flavors complemented by menthol and mint nuances. A juicy, chewy, nicely ripe village wine, no doubt given more volume by the inclusion of the premier cru fruit. Finishes with firm, slightly dusty tannins and noteworthy persistence. Includes the estate's premier crus Les Chaignots and Les Chènes Carteaux in 2016 as these two lots were too tiny to vinify on their own.

This is sufficiently reduced to overshadow the fruit but it appears to be ripe. Otherwise there is excellent punch and verve to the powerful and muscular flavors that possess excellent mid-palate density while delivering fine length on the balanced finish. This manages to be very Nuits in character without being unduly chewy or rustic. Once again, this is worth considering. 2028+ A 3.5 ha monopole with 30+ year old vines.

Bright, dark red. A touch of reduction to the aromas of dark berries, subtle spices and black pepper. Fine-grained, juicy and discreet, with blueberry and blackberry flavors complemented by a note of dark chocolate and nicely framed by harmonious acidity and firm tannins. Slightly rustic but nicely round and sweet for its modest 12.5% alcohol. The tannins are fine-grained and ripe, and the finish displays sneaky length and lift. I like this! These wines were racked after the spring malos but not since then. Aging in 20% new oak.

A beautifully layered nose offers up notes of both red and black pinot fruit, spice, warm earth and evident sauvage nuances. The rich, delicious and caressing medium weight plus flavors possess a velvety mid-palate mouthfeel that contrasts somewhat with the very firm, saline and lingering finish. This is muscular but not really rustic. 2028+ A 2 ha parcel with a mix of 80% 75+ year old vines and the remainder of 15 to 20 year old vines.

Bright, dark red. Nicely ripe but lively on the nose. Then suave and moderately sweet in the mouth, showing more red fruits than black, with energetic notes of menthol and licorice giving the wine a refreshingly cool aspect. Finishes juicy and brisk, with slightly edgy dusty tannins. This fine-grained wine is youthfully closed and a bit medicinal today and will likely need time in bottle to open. These east-facing vines were affected by the cold air coming in through the combe, noted Antoine Gouges, but production was down by "only" 50%.

A brooding nose only reluctantly reveals notes of ripe and ultra-fresh dark currant, earth and a smoked game nuance. There is outstanding density to the powerful, robust and bold big-bodied flavors that possess seriously good concentration where the sap does a good job of buffering the very firm tannic spine shaping the superbly persistent finish. This is textbook Vaucrains and as such, it’s going to need extended cellaring. 2031+ From a 1.08 ha mix of younger and older vines that average about 50+ years of age; from yields of only 11 hl/ha in 2016.

Healthy dark red. Slightly medicinal aromas of black cherry and chocolate are complicated by a whiff of animal fur. Plush and fine-grained, offering lovely pliancy to the flavors of dark berries, chocolate and tobacco; plumper than the Les Saint-Georges but without that wine's definition and cut. The very rich tannins coat the front teeth but this very ripe wine is already quite expressive. Production was down by about 70% for the Vaucrains

A spicy and more elegant array is equally restrained with its notes of spice, ripe essence of plum and plenty of warm earth characters. The rich, succulent and mineral-driven medium weight flavors possess excellent volume and mid-palate concentration before terminating in a dry extract and mineral-suffused finish. This is classy and refined yet with plenty of muscle and firm structure. 2031+ From a 1.1 ha parcel of 55+ year old vines

Bright dark red. The most reduced of these 2016s on the nose today, offering scents of cherry, plum, licorice and mocha. Densely packed, fine-grained and sweet, showing terrific juicy cut and vinosity to its primary dark fruit, chocolate and violet flavors. Finishes with serious but essentially smooth tannins and rising purple fruits that saturate the mouth and leave the taste buds glistening. At once more refined and more powerful than the Vaucrains, this wine is built for a graceful evolution in bottle. Production was down by about 70% for Les Saint-Georges.