2015 Hubert Lignier, Nuits-Saint-Georges Premier Cru, Les Didiers

The 2015 Nuits St Georges les Didiers Cuvee Hospice de Nuits (which Laurent Lignier purchases from the Hospices de Nuits) has a very elegant bouquet with pure red cherry, mulberry and mineral scents, somehow laid-back, almost nonchalant. The palate is medium-bodied—even though Laurent immediately transferring this into used barrels, the initial seven months in new oak still makes an imprint upon this wine. Grippy in the mouth, it should be afforded 5-6 years in bottle.

(the Ligniers took possession of this wine in May and immediately racked it into older barrels): Good full red. Aromas of raspberry and spicy oak do not yet show the complexity of the best wines vinified by Lignier. Good density and stuffing to the juicy flavors of red and dark berries and licorice lifted by a mineral component. Conveys a pliant texture but the oak tannins (the crus sold at the Hospices de Nuits auction begin in 100% new barrels) are obvious on the end, giving the wine a slight dryness that may yet disappear by the bottling.