2019 Gerard Julien Nuits Bousselots

The 2019 Nuits Saint-Georges Les Bousselots 1er Cru, matured entirely in new oak (wood dried for 36 months by Cavin called "Aphrodite"). It has a very opulent bouquet of kirsch and crème de cassis aromas. The palate is sweet and candied on the entry, and very oaky, of course, with good grip and perhaps more body than the Echézeaux, though for me, not quite the same elegance. 88-90 points

100% new wood this year (though not always). Much deeper and more intense fruit. Etienne works closely with the Cavins on the barrel front. He likes the flesh and the freshness of new wood and it slips below the surface after a couple of years in bottle. Heady nose, with currently a slight oaky oxidative feel. Darker fruit, short of mulberry, fresher behind and with good intensity. Will emerge as a relatively classic Nuits-St-Georges I think. Certainly carries its weight well. 91-94 points

An appealingly spicy nose offers up various dark berry aromas that are trimmed in nuances of earth and wood. The textured, velvety and mouth coating middle weight plus flavors are blessed with a lovely underlying tension as well as a refreshing salinity on the firmer, youthfully austere and impressively persistent finish where the only nit is a hint of warmth. Good stuff and this too is worthy of your interest. 91-93 points

The old-vine 2019 Nuits-Saint-Georges 1er Cru Les Bousselots is very promising, mingling aromas of cherries, cassis and sweet berry fruit with hints of cinnamon, dark chocolate and truffle. Medium to full-bodied, layered and concentrated, it`s seamless and elegant, with succulent acids and a broad, expansive finish. 92 points