2014 Domaine Henri Gouges, Nuits-Saint-Georges Premier Cru, Les Pruliers

For reports and full tasting notes, go toTim Atkin MW's website.

The 2014 Nuits Saint-Georges Les Pruliers 1er Cru has an expressive bouquet with cranberry, raspberry and briary scents. Hints of damp earth and sous-bois develop with aeration. There is something very cohesive and focused about the aromatics here. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannin, wonderful backbone and linearity, a sense of precision towards the finish that was not evident in previous vintages. There is superb length here, one of the best Les Pruliers from Gouges...thus far! Tasted at the Gouges retrospective at La Cabotte.

Good bright, dark red. Pure and perfumed on the nose, showing a slightly medicinal quality to the aromas of dark raspberry, black cherry, red licorice, spices and spearmint. Broad, supple and classically dry, with dark fruit flavors lifted by a note of rose petal. Longer and more tannic than the Clos des Porrets Saint-Georges but fine-grained for its imposing structure. Gregory Gouges told me he finds this a bit candied for his taste but it does not lack for freshness.

The deepest crimson of these samples, yet still very light crimson. Meaty, more concentrated nose than the other Gouges 2014s tasted in early 2016. Some real concentration of fruit and discernible spice, bitter cherries and relatively firm tannin. Relatively backward with sandy tannins and real persistence. But still the unforced, delicate ’new’ Gouges style. (JR)