2012 Domaine Dominique Mugneret Nuits-Saint-Georges

The 2012 Nuits Saint Georges Village comes from two parcels in “Les Herbeaux” and “Les Fleurieres” and also sees 25% new oak. It has a clean and fresh strawberry pastille-scented bouquet with nicely integrated oak. The palate is balanced on the entry with slightly darker brambly fruit than I was expecting. It is quite linear in the mouth and uncomplicated, though it just needs a little more nervosite to develop on the finish. Otherwise this is a straight down the line, delightful, classic Nuits Saint Georges village cru. Dominique Mugneret is the cousin of Patrice Mugneret of Domaine Gerard Mugneret (see separate entry.) Its roots like in Domaine Denis Mugneret that was established in 1979, his son Dominique officially starting three years later after studies at viticultural college and military service and bottling a majority of production themselves only really began in 1985 after the cuverie had been built. Dominique took over completely in 1999, introducing biodynamic principles towards his vineyard husbandry, cultivating grass between rows to regulate vigor, fully de-stemming fruit and only intermittently racking during elevage. This is a small winery located opposite the Clos des Reas vineyard in Vosne-Romanee, a fairly rudimentary winery that nevertheless creates commendable wines. Dominique told me that he started the harvest around 20 September after a growing season the diminished his crops. These are decent, commendable wines, even if I found his cousin’s wines showed more panache and complexity. Importer: Becky Wasserman Selection (various importers), Le Serbet, Beaune; fax 011-33-3-80-24-29-70