1995 Domaine Henri Gouges Nuits-Saint-Georges Les Saint-Georges 1er Cru

Dark ruby. Smells a little bit like the Gantenbein. Pretty chewy. A bit heavy. The corset is so thick I fear we may never see the flesh. (JR)

The medium-to-dark ruby-colored Nuits-St.-Georges Les St. Georges possesses a muted nose, but an explosive, intensely chewy mouth jam-packed with huge black fruits (cassis, blackberries, etc...), loads of sun-baked thyme and rosemary, a full-body and a slightly rugged, but long finish. It will be at its best between 2002-2010. This note is the result of tastings I did in Burgundy between January 7 and January 29. The Ratings with a score in parentheses indicate the wine was tasted from cask, not bottle. Pinot Noir, a fragile varietal, reacts poorly to fining, filtration, and careless bottling techniques, I recommend caution when considering buying a red burgundy based on cask samples. I called it as I tasted it, and hope the bottled wine reflects the quality of the samples I was provided. The 1995s are the finest wines from this estate I have tasted, and I hope the progress continues. Importer: Vineyard Brands, Chester, VT; tel. (802) 875-2139.

Red-ruby. Darker aromas of black cherry, dark berries, licorice, coffee and pepper. Dense but very fresh in the mouth; sweet, pungent berry fruit is complicated by notes of leather and smoke. Seemed to shut down in the glass. Finishes with powerful but ripe tannins. This may well need a good decade of aging, but should reward patience.