2011 Nuits St Georges Clos de Forets St Georges

Tasted blind at the Burgundy 2011 horizontal tasting in Beaune. The Nuits Saint Georges Clos des Forets St Georges 2011 is closed on the nose compared to the Clos de l’Arlot: rather subdued with blackberry and sous-bois notes trying to get out from the glass with which they seem tethered. The palate is medium-bodied with crisp tannins, lithe red cherries and strawberry fruit with a taut and linear, quite spicy finish that lingers nicely. Very fine – but it needs another 3-4 years in bottle.

Bright, dark red. Superripe aromas of red cherry, raspberry and spices lifted by crushed-stone minerality. Creamy and full yet vigorous, with serious calcaire lift to the cherry and spice flavors. This lovely, vibrant wine may not have the volume of the young 2012 but it possesses a firm spine for aging and finishes with excellent persistence.

7.11 ha. 15-20,000 bottles. In 2011 they made seven different parcels from different points on the hill. They will not be bottled separately. We were shown three of the seven and a proposed final blend. Sample 1: Bottom of the hill 60-70 cm of soil on calcaire. Quite intense and smooth and concentrated. With a bit of mineral chew on the end. Flattering and quite open. But a bit tough on the end. Score 16, Drink 2016-25 Sample 2: Top of the hill Thinner soil, only 30 cm, with lots of gravel and then mother rock of either calcaire de premeaux or limestone. Very dark crimson. Very rich and round with deep flavours. And then much more obvious structure than sample 1. Really quite dry, but not drying, on the finish. Score 16.5, Drink 2018-27 Sample 3: Middle of the hill Complex because of a geological fault. Deep soils, orange silt left by underground rivers, and then very varied mother rock. Light nose, less assertive than sample 2. But it's sweet and heady. Really rather seductive. Intense fruitiness. Polish and there is real depth on the finish. Score 16.5, Drink 2017-25 Sample 4: Final blend of Clos des Forêts 15% whole bunch, 50% new oak. Mid crimson. Well mannered without being really exciting on the nose. Real energy on the palate – drive and zest, which are bonuses in 2011. And a bit more weight than the components. Long and racy. The overall score is for the blend. (JR)