2020 Henri Gouges Nuits-St-Georges 1er Cru “Les Pruliers”

Description

92-95    Jasper Morris Inside Burgundy
“Almost black in the middle. More a very intense sun dried dark cherry bouquet than raisins though. Pretty heady stuff either way round. Super sumptuous with this exciting red cherry fruit as well as black, and good acidity. It would be easily possible to fall in love with this, even if it is more powerful than I really like. Tasted: November 2021.”

94    Wine Spectator
“A dark, dense red, with aromas of black cherry, blackberry and black currant shaded by graphite and violet. Picks up details of sweet spices as this builds to a lengthy conclusion. Balanced and lively, with a refreshing aftertaste. Best from 2025 through 2042.” (2/2023)

93    John Gilman
“The Gouges family’s 2020 Pruliers comes in at an even fourteen percent alcohol in this vintage and is a fien bottle in the making. The bouquet is deep and nascently complex, jumping from the glass in a mix of sappy cassis and dark berries, game, coffee bean, a fine base of dark soil tones, vanillin oak and plenty of upper register smokiness. On the palate the wine is full-bodied, chewy and rock solid at the core, with fine focus and grip, ripe, firm tannins, impeccable balance and a long, structured and classic finish. All this fine bottle needs is some extended time in the cellar to soften up its tannins. Drink between 2036-2100. (11/2021)

91-93    Alan Meadows for Burghound
“A more deeply pitched and brooding nose only grudgingly reveals its aromas of cassis plum liqueur and pungent earth where the latter is also found on the vibrant and well-detailed big-bodied and tautly muscular flavors that deliver excellent depth and persistence. This is not as dense as the best in the range, but it should have no trouble amply repaying 12 to 15 years of bottle aging.” *Burghound Outstanding!* (1/2022)

91-93    Neal Martin for Vinous
“The 2020 Nuits Saint-Georges Les Pruliers 1er Cru did not suffer too much hail according to Antoine Gouges, at most 5%. This is very ripe and slightly gourmand on the nose, light savory notes emerging with time. The palate is medium-bodied with ripe tannins, nicely controlled and then just tightening up towards the finish that shows just a bit of VA. Quite dense of a Pruliers, give this some time in the cellar.” (11/2021)