2006 Nuits Saint-Georges Village

I had already received the strong impression that 2006 was particularly successful in Nuits-Saint-Georges, as this village largely avoided hail, the fruit ripened well, and the tannins avoided the hardness that so much wine from this appellation can display even in successful years. Christian Gouges agreed with this assessment, noting that "even the tannins on the south side of the town are rounder than usual." Thanks to the smooth tannins, stable colors and healthy grapes, Gouges hoped to bottle his wines without fining or filtration. He expressed the opinion that the 2006s have all the elements for long aging in bottle. The premier crus here had virtually no botrytis, thanks to the cover crop that soaks up excess moisture in the ground. Potential alcohol levels were in the 12.5% range, and the crus were not chaptalized. (Vineyard Brands, Birmingham, AL)