2005 Nuits St Georges Les Roncieres

Medium red. Wild aromas of red fruits and truffle. Sweet, lively and stuffed with cherry and spice flavors. Very nicely balanced, vibrant 2005 that finishes long and juicy, with firm but pliant tannins. Excellent for this bottling, and built to age. (ST) 90+

*Outstanding* Pretty red and black Pinot fruit nuanced with earth and violet hints lead to sweet, delicious and punchy flavors that possess good detail on the delineated and mineral-infused finish supported by sophisticated and relatively fine tannins. Lovely and serious and built for the long haul. Recommended.

From a site adjoining Les Pruliers, Grivot’s 2005 Nuits-St.-Georges Les Roncieres offers the nose ripe cherry and black raspberry, roasted meats and a pungent herb-flower-spice melange. On the palate, this counter poses an invigorating brightness and subtle tartness of fruit with mouth-coating richness and a silken texture. We’re up to 40% new wood already, but I would never have thought about it for a moment had Grivot not mentioned the fact. This elegant, long Pinot from an underrated site should improve over at least a 3-6 year period. Etienne Grivot aimed this year for gentle extraction (essentially without pigeage), then watchful preservation of the freshness, subtleties and refinement inherent in near-perfect raw material. He performed some very light chaptalization to extend the fermentations. Given the health and natural concentration of his vinous raw material, he felt no need to sulfur or rack the wines until shortly prior to bottling (without filtration), which was the stage at which I tasted. Importer: Diageo Chateau and Estate Wines Company, New York, NY; tel. (212) 419-1400.