2014 Nuits St Georges Aux Bas de Combes
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Tasting notes
Bright, full red-ruby. Blacker fruits, violet and licorice on the nose, with some wild scents of animal fur and leather. Fairly large-scaled, smooth and full; this has unwound nicely since I tasted it from barrel a year ago. The fine-grained tannins are well buffered by the wine's stuffing. Tardy aged this wine in 40% new oak but the wood element is in harmony with the wine's fruit. Finishes with very good persistence.
Critic scores
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Stephen Tanzer, Vinous
Stephen Tanzer, Vinous
More reviews and scores
(from 80-year-old vines): Dark red with ruby highlights. Black fruits, violet and licorice on the nose and palate; I would have guessed Vosne-Romanée, but then this vineyard is located very close to Vons Les Charmes. Tightly wound, classically dry, vertical wine with very good energy and noteworthy elegance. Finishes with suave tannins for Units-Saint-Georges and sneaky persistence.
The 2014 Nuits St Georges Vieilles Vignes Bas da Combe has a pure bouquet, quite floral and feminine here with lush strawberry, red cherries and a touch of orange sorbet. The palate is nicely balanced, silky in the mouth and there is a keen line of acidity with black cherries, a hint of dried fig and a healthy dose of spice towards the linear finish. This will need 3-4 years in bottle, but hey, if you cannot afford Lalou Bize-Leroy's version, here is a commendable alternative.