2009 Domaine Henri Gouges Nuits-Saint-Georges Les Chaignots 1er Cru

The 2009 Nuits St. Georges Les Chaignots (from the northern side of the village) emerges from the glass with crushed flowers, spices and gently perfumed fruit. This is a relatively feminine, delicate style of Nuits, with silky tannins and terrific overall balance. A final burst of red fruit informs the finish. The Chaignots was bottled mid-January 2011. Anticipated maturity: 2019-2029. This is a striking set of 2009s from Gouges. The estate is pursuing a slightly updated style in trying to make the entry-level wines more accessible early on. According to Gregoire Gouges the approach to the higher end wines remains the same, which is to say these remain sturdy Burgundies that benefit immensely from cellaring. The harvest at Gouges began on September 15. The fruit was 100% destemmed. Vinification started with a 3 day cold soak (at only modestly cold temperatures) followed by 10-15 days of cuvaison. The wines were racked after the malos, the lees were removed, and the wines were put back into barrel, where they finished (or were finishing) their elevage. All of the wines were aged in 20% new oak barrels. Importer: Vineyard Brands, Birmingham, AL; tel. (205) 980-8802