*2002 Domaine Henri Gouges Nuits St. Georges 1er Cru Les Pruliers
*
Opaque ruby color. Fulsome, most excellent nose of earth, raspberry, iodine, plum pits, hyacinth, and ferric notes. Vibrant, iron-laden layers of red raspberry and black cherry fruit fanning out on the palate with a broad platform of dusty tannin and ample acidity. Long finish of sweet earthy fruit with craggy stone and grip. Soaring, jewel-tinged fruit and the depth of a quarry. And it will only get better.
Thanks for the note, Doug. When do you reckon you will open a 2nd bottle? I have a single '02 Gouges Pruliers that I have been waiting on, alongside some '02 Chevillon Pruliers that I hope to open against it. Curious if you would recommend waiting another 5YRs versus opening in the next year or so.
This wine could go for ages. I have always thought of 2002 as being a bit more open and accessible as a vintage, but on the other hand this is Gouges we are talking about. If you have one bottle, the 5 year window sounds about right. The Chevillon won’t suffer either.
Seriously! I have a couple ‘95 Pruliers, and I’m terrified of opening that! Likewise for ‘96 Les St Georges… anyone have any recent experience in either vintage with Gouges? My non-gouges vintage experiences don’t give me any confidence to be sure…
My experience with Gouges has generally been very positive. Only negative was with 2007 Pruliers, but then I found 2007 disappointing overall, not just Gouges. As far as the 95 and 96 go, my vote is give them a try, you might be pleasantly surprised.