2018 Henri Gouges Nuits Clos des Porrets

Denser purple with a fine clean fresh plums nose. Superb density of ripe fruit, entirely in balance, fills the middle of the palate and extends to a juicy fruitful finish. The tannins are barely visible. Team Gouges has pulled out the best of the vintage! 92-95 points

The 2018 Nuits Saint-Georges Clos des Porrets-Saint-Georges 1er Cru was due to be racked the following week and bottled before the end of the year. It has a generous bouquet of upfront red cherry and crushed strawberry fruit, a little too ripe for my liking and when compared to previous vintages. The medium-bodied palate offers soft tannins, gentle grip and plenty of fleshy red fruit, although it is missing some grip and density toward the finish. Pleasant, but I would broach this in its youth. 88-90 points

The Clos des Porrets is further north and was out of the path of the hail in July, so the wine was not affected and it has turned out superbly in 2018. The bouquet is deep and already beautifully expressive, jumping from the glass in a mix of black cherries, cassis, bitter chocolate, a hint of cola, gamebird, a complex base of dark soil tones and a topnote of woodsmoke. On the palate the wine is deep, full-bodied, powerful in personality, but just impeccably balanced at the same time, with a great core of fruit, firm, buried tannins, tangy acids and outstanding length and grip on the poised and very promising finish. Fine, fine juice in the making. Drink 2033-2080. 93 points

A slightly fresher array is comprised by notes of cassis, red and dark berry liqueur and plenty of newly turned earth elements. There is better energy to the opulent and very rich medium weight flavors that terminate in a perceptibly warm finale that exhibits slightly better length. 88-90 points