- 95 points -

A stunning 2021 Nuits-Saint-Georges 1er Cru with wonderful perfume and silkiness, the considerable power underplayed on the concentrated mid-palate, the finish long and delicately mineral. Spot on balance of fruit and restrained oak. Very long finish.

- 95 points -

The 0.81ha vineyard for these grapes is at the top of the hill, resulting in very cool conditions for the vines. This terroir produces a spicy, vivacious wine with notes of cassis and mulberry, accented with smoke and new leather. The 2020 vintage was aged half in new casks and half in two-year-old barrels to give a wine with plenty of finesse and high-toned elegance, yet one that in no way lacks solid ‘Nuits’ character.

- 94 points -

The 2011 Damodes opens with an enticing earthy, compost black cherry nose. There is plenty of power here in what is a serious red for Burgundy lovers not label readers. Les Damodes sits just across from Vosne-Romanée and is a fleshier richer style Nuits-St-Georges. Look for beautiful cherry fruit and spice in a well-made Cru with power and finesse. Very good.

- 94 points -

So close to Vosne-Romanée that it borders Les Malconsorts, this is a wine that almost
belongs in Vosne rather than Nuits, at least stylistically. Made with 10% whole bunches for the first time in 2012, it has a little bit of Nuits wildness and slightly firmer tannins than most Vosne. Densely coloured and quite oaky right now, it needs time.

- 93 points -

- 93 points -

This is vibrant and supple, featuring cherry and wild berry flavors that take on spice and leafy, vegetal accents. Solid, with a line of tannins demarcating the lingering finish.

- 93 points -

So close to Cosne-Romanée that it borders Les Malconsorts, this is a wine that almost belongs in Vosne rather than Nuits, at least stylistically. Made with 10% whole bunches for the first time in 2012, it has a little bit of Nuits wildness and slightly firmer tannins than most Vosne. Densely coloured and quite oaky right now, it needs time.

- 91 points -

Good medium red. Withdrawn nose hints at minerals, stone, spicy oak and celery seed. Densely packed and pliant, with good inner-mouth energy to the flavors of redcurrant, raspberry, smoky oak and saline minerality. Finishes with ripe tannins and serious length.

- 91 points -

Bright medium red. Initially reticent, brooding nose opens to offer pungent cranberry and pomegranate scents complicated by spices and flowers. Plush and sweet, offering insidious fruit intensity; harmonious acidity frames the wine without intruding. This fine-grained wine strikes me as riper than the Chaignots. Finishes with very good length.

(91-93) points

More evident wood frames ripe, cool and airy aromas that are more from the dark side of the fruit spectrum. The sleek, delicious and attractively vibrant flavors flash good minerality and tension, both of which can be found on the balanced, complex and solidly persistent finish. This is lovely and very Damodes.

91-94 Points

Good bright, deep red. Soil-driven aromas and flavors of red berries, caraway seed, mocha, chocolate and spices, lifted by a floral topnote. Tactile and intense, with strong saline minerality contributing to the impression of energy and precision. Finishes with suave, fine-grained tannins and excellent lift.

91+ Points

Bright medium red. Ineffable aromas of perfumed red fruits, dried flowers and truffley underbrush, complicated by a saline quality. Supple and seamless on the palate, showing a restrained sweetness to its flavors of red berries, smoke and earth. Finishes with dusty tannins and a lingering oakiness. Doesn't show quite the exhilarating floral lift of the Chaignots but possesses strong material.

(89-92) Points

An overtly spicy nose of cool and earthy aromas of red currant and elegant floral
notes. There is good delineation to the supple and vibrant medium weight flavors that possess a taut muscularity on the lightly mineral-inflected finish. This harmonious effort delivers fine length in a package that should amply reward mid to longer-term
cellaring.

89-92 Points

This is aromatically similar to the Chaignots but perhaps just a touch fresher.
There is fine richness to the very round and attractively textured medium-bodied flavors where the minerality is a bit more pronounced on the relatively powerful finish that is slightly longer though slightly less complex. At the moment these two
wines are qualitative equals but the expressions are quite different.

(90-92) Points

(in tank): Bright ruby-red. Very ripe, spicy, slightly porty aromas of black raspberry and bitter chocolate show surprising lift. Rich, chewy and sweet in the mouth, showing serious stuffing and unexpected energy. This wine will need to absorb its youthfully rough tannins.

(90-92) Points

A spicy, fresh and mildly exotic nose of tea, wild red berries and plenty of pungent
earth gives way to more obvious mineral-inflected flavors that possess a taut muscularity on the balanced, understated and attractively persistent finish. Even with the muscle, this is essentially a wine of finesse as the supporting tannins are really
quite fine.

(90-92) points

The 2021 Nuits Saint-Georges Les Damodes 1er Cru showed just a little reduction on the nose. This does not occlude the florality that ekes out with aeration (unsurprising given its location on the Vosne border). The palate is medium-bodied with quite racy tannins, a citrus-fresh Damodes, linear and maybe a little lean towards the finish but persistent in the mouth

(89-92) points

There is enough wood framing the spicy and mildly exotic aromas of tea, orange peel and both red and dark pinot fruit. I very much like the texture and energy of the medium weight flavors that offer good length if only average depth at present though more should develop with a few years of keeping.

91-93 Points

The 2020 Nuits Saint Georges Les Damodes 1er Cru showed some reduction on the nose, but there is plenty of fruit here. The palate is medium-bodied, quite elegant and pure, smooth in texture with a discreet pinch of white pepper and allspice towards the finish. I like this manner in which this builds in the mouth. Juicy and mouthfilling. 

(91-93) POINTS

Dark red-ruby. Tight aromas of black cherry, lavender, spices and licorice, plus a suggestion of bloody steak. A very pure, intense, fine-grained midweight with serious sappiness and minerality, not to mention strong acidity for Nuits-Saint-Georges. Finishes fresh and stony, with surprisingly suave tannins. An excellent showing, even if this wine will require more aging than the Chaignots.

(90-93) Points

An attractively layered and bright nose offers up notes of various dark berries,
plenty of earth, spice and a touch of the sauvage. There is first-rate punch to the sleekly muscular and mineral-driven middle weight plus flavors that are quite firm if somewhat less strict though there is evident youthful austerity. This is also constructed to reward mid to longer-term cellaring and it’s going to require at least 6 to 8 years first.

(88-90) POINTS

The 2017 Nuits Saint-Georges Les Damodes 1er Cru comes from shallow soils. It has a lively bouquet of vivacious crushed strawberry and cassis, all neatly integrated with the oak, around 50% new. The medium-bodied palate is linear and correct, offering crisp tannin, firm in grip and a terse, stony finish. Give this two or three years in bottle.

(90-92) POINTS

Moderate reduction and wood dominate the nose today. Much more interesting are the highly energetic and more mineral-driven flavors that possess a beguiling inner mouth perfume before concluding in a saline and mildly austere finish that is shaped by admirably fine-grained tannins. This is not particularly dense but it is really pretty and should age well on its balance.

(90-92) Points

Here too reduction dominates the nose. There is a lovely inner mouth perfume to the concentrated, intense and more muscular middle weight flavors that possess a velvety and seductive mouth feel before terminating in a balanced and slightly rustic finale. In sum this is Nuits in style but a civilized Nuits.