2016 Nuits St Georges Les Cras
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Tasting notes
The 2016 Nuits Saint-Georges Aux Cras 1er Cru has a full-throttle, meaty, slightly savory bouquet where I find the imprimatur of the oak coming across strongly at the moment. Hopefully bottle age will address that. The palate is medium-bodied with smooth rounded tannins that lend this Nuits Saint-Georges a cashmere texture and a quite sumptuous, confit-like finish. Trying its utmost to impress and it just about pulls it off. Tasted blind at the 2016 Burgfest tasting.
Critic scores
Average Score
Jancis Robinson MW
Jancis Robinson MW
More reviews and scores
(entirely destemmed): Bright ruby-red. Pungent aromas of blackberry and crushed rock are accented by a violet topnote. Dense, juicy and pure if a bit youthfully folded in on itself. A distinctly rocky, austere style compared to the Suchots, with its dark berry flavors complicated by a note of licorice. Not quite dry but showing no easy sweetness today. This taut, precise wine is most impressive today on its juicy back end, where brisk notes of flowers, spices, medicinal herbs and licorice leave the taste buds quivering. This will need time.
Having just finished its malolactic a couple of months prior to my visit, the 2016 Nuits Saint-Georges 1er Cru Aux Cras fought through a slight reduction to suggest a bouquet packed with red and black fruit, crushed violets and rose petals. With aeration, more blue fruit emerges. The palate is medium-bodied with supple, rounded tannin, perfect acidity, extremely well focused with a sensual and sophisticated finish that lingers in the mouth. This is a superb Aux Cras that is going to give a lot of pleasure.
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.