2011 Nuits St Georges Les Cras
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Tasting notes
Tasted blind at the Burgundy 2011 horizontal tasting in Beaune. The Nuits Saint Georges 1er Cru Aux Cras 2011 surpassed my expectations. It has the most natural wine of the flight: well defined and harmonious, pretty brambly red fruit with just a touch of minerality coming through with aeration. The palate is medium-bodied with fine, sappy ripe red berry fruit (pomegranate, cranberry and raspberry) that leads to a structured, grippy finish that suggests this will repay several years in bottle.
Critic scores
Average Score
Neal Martin
Jancis Robinson MW
More reviews and scores
Good full, bright red. Slightly high-toned, nuanced aromas of red and black cherry, licorice and exotic spices. A step up in intensity and verve from the Colombiere, showing a youthfully medicinal cast to the flavors of black fruits, fresh herbs, mint and menthol. The juicy, firmly tannic finish displays very good lift.
Twelve months since our last acquaintance, the 2011 Nuits Saint Georges 1er Cru Les Cras has an open and generous balsamic-tinged bouquet with subtle tertiary aromas – the kind of nose you want to give a gentle kick up the asse. The palate is medium-bodied with firm dry tannins, just a touch of herbaceousness that segues into a dry, earthy finish. It feels a little coarse at the moment and it deserves a couple more years in bottle. Drink 2015-2025. Importers: Grand Cru Selections, New York, NY; tel. (212) 974-2500; and in the UK through Justerini & Brooks.
Markedly deep, firm colour. Very bright crimson. Strong smell of undergrowth rather than fruit (unusual in a 2011). Very juicy fruit and some strange note that's a bit biological. Almost mousy? Shame because it was all going so well. Big question mark over this for me – perhaps just because I happen to be very sensitive to mousiness. (JR)
About the producer
Since its rebirth in 2000, Domaine du Comte Liger-Belair has quickly become one of the most highly sought-after producers in Vosne-Romanée. The most prized wine from the estate is their monopole Grand Cru La Romanée.