2018 Domaine Henri Gouges Nuits-Saint-Georges

The Nuits AC from 2018 chez Gouges is a bit lower in octane than the Bourgogne, coming in at a very reasonable (by 2018 standards in Nuits St. Georges) of 13.8 percent and offering up excellent focus and soil signature to go along with beautiful fruit tones. The nose wafts from the glass in a mix of sweet dark berries, espresso, black plums, a touch of new leather, a fine base of soil, gamebird and a smoky topnote. On the palate the wine is pure, full-bodied and quite energetic and powerful on the backend, with a fine core of fruit, ripe, well-integrated tannins and excellent length and grip on the soil-driven finish. This will need a good decade to start to blossom, but it is a fine example.