2013 Henri Gouges Nuits-St-Georges Pruliers

The 2013 Pruliers at Domaine Gouges was also just a bit reduced at the time of my visit, but it was very clear that this is a very elegant vintage for this cru. With coaxing, the wine delivers a lovely and very promising nose of cassis, dark berries, woodsmoke, dark and quite stony soil tones, bitter chocolate and a nice touch of the meatiness to come. On the palate the wine is deep, full-bodied and very transparent in personality, with a rock solid core, ripe, chewy tannins and excellent length and grip on the focused and surprisingly elegant (particularly for a young Pruliers) finish. Another outstanding wine in the making. 0223-2065+. 93 points

The 2013 Nuits St Georges 1er Cru les Pruliers might well be the pick of the wines from Domaine Henri Gouges this year. It has a tightly wound, undergrowth-tinged bouquet with mulberry and briary aromas. The palate is underpinned by fine, taut tannins and a taut thread of acidity. This is very “streamlined” at the moment – all about th e focus and energy rather than flamboyance. It has a lovely shimmering finish, with a long saline aftertaste. Excellent. 92-94 points

Reduction again masks the fruit though it does seem ripe. There is good power and punch to the very round but imposing medium weight plus flavors that possess a sleek muscularity before culminating in a lightly mineral-inflected, palate coating and impressively persistent finish. I very much like the complexity though it`s clear that this very firmly structured effort is going to require an extended stay in a cool cellar. Classic Pruliers. 91-93 points