2020 Nuits-Saint-Georges 1. Cru Les Damodes La Vougeraie

50% whole bunch. Surprisingly deep purple and extra intensity on the nose. 70 year old vines still in good form, so there is intensity even in this hillside site. Lovely succulent fruit swarms over the palate, still a touch of austerity behind which I like anyway, but the depth and the length are first class. Last year I fractionally preferred Clos de Thorey, but this year Damodes is in another league.

A focused, even racy red, whose blackberry, black cherry, earth and spice notes are fused to the linear frame. Shows fine concentration, balance and length, yet needs some time to unwind.

(50% whole clusters). Here an equally spicy nose has fruit that derives more from the red side of the spectrum along with floral and soft earth touches. There is slightly more volume to the delicious mediumbodied flavors that are also relatively refined with dense but fine tannins shaping the more structured and lightly austere finale. This is also really quite good and worth your interest

The 2020 Nuits Saint-Georges Les Damodes 1er Cru includes 50% whole bunch. This has a welcoming bouquet with raspberry and crushed strawberry fruit, hints of pressed rose petals and coniferous trees. The palate is medium-bodied with sappy red berry fruit, fine grip, a little compact towards the finish, though it should flesh out in bottle. Quite poised and sustained.