1990 Domaine Faiveley Nuits-Saint-Georges Les Damodes 1er Cru

Faiveley believes the 1990s are the finest wines the firm has produced in several decades. Consumers will be happy to know that not only is there a bevy of top wines, but many of them are priced below what Faiveley the last two vintages. The international recession has hit Burgundy as hard as Bordeaux, so it is not surprising to see many producers cut prices by as much as 40% in order to sell their wines. Of course, much of these savings is lost to Americans because of our pathetically weak dollar. There are a half-dozen selections from the village of Nuits St.-Georges, all of which are at least excellent, some outstanding. Faiveley's 1990 Nuits St.-Georges-Les Damodes offers up a thick, fragrant nose of black-cherries, herbs, and minerals. In the mouth, this full-bodied, rich, monolithic wine is noticeably tannic and hard. The fruit is present, but this is a 1990 that requires 4-5 years of cellaring; it should keep for a decade or more. Importers: Henry Cavalier Selections, Boulder, CO and Ideal Wines, Medford, MA.