2004 Nuits Saint-Georges Village

Pascal Lachaux claimed to have done a total of 13 passes through his vineyards during the 2004 growing season to stave off any serious maladies of the vine. According to Lachaux, the Arnoux holdings experienced little hail on August 23; rather, the problem in 2004 was more a lack of ripeness. At the time of my visit, Lachaux planned to rack his 2004s at the end of November, allow them to settle in cuve for a month or two, and then bottle quickly "to avoid hardening the tannins. "Lachaux told me he vinified in 2004 "as usual," which is to say with minimal pigeage. He pressed very lightly to avoid crushing the seeds. The typical 2004 was picked with alcohol in the 12. 7% range and chaptalized a half degree to extend the fermentations. Lachaux maintains that 2004 has more stuffing, elegance and fruit than either 2001 or 2000. "The wines still showed some vegetal notes in the spring, but these have disappeared in recent months. Today they're very pinot. "