Domaine Henri Gouges, Nuits-Saint-Georges 1er Cru, Clos des Porrets Monopole 2006

 A black velvet Nuits, this has flavor complexity equal to its powerful tannic structure. The dark fruit weaves scents of game, flowers, stems and black pepper directly into the tight grip of the tannin. It's a deeply satisfying wine that could be enjoyed now after several hours in a decanter, though best cellared for five or six years first. For roast squab or other game birds.  (10/2009)

 Ripe black cherry and cassis mingled with herbs and leather scent the 2006 Nuits-St.-Georges Clos des Porrets St.-Georges. A complex though hard-to-pin-down sense of things mineral and carnal accompanies this wine's sweetly rich black fruits across a silken palate, and faintly medicinal, herbal, black tea, iodine, cardamom, and bitter fruit pit notes add intrigue to a long, dynamic finish.. A silken texture and refined tannins again present the option to relish this for its generosity now, or at any time over at minimum the next 7-9 years. (DS)  (12/2009)

 The Gouges family’s monopole premier cru, the Clos des Porrets was one of the later wines in the cellar to finish its malo, had not yet reached a state of reduction, and consequently was much more expressive aromatically. Here the purity of fruit that all of these wines will offer when back on form was quite evident, as the wine offered up a fine nose of black cherries, dark berries, woodsmoke, medicinal tones, great minerality and a topnote of roses. On the palate this was still retaining some carbon dioxide from the malo, but was full, very long and ripely tannic, with great grip. It will prove to be an excellent bottle. (Drink between 2016-2045)  (12/2007)

 A relatively elegant and surprisingly high-toned floral-infused red and blue pinot fruit nose is in keeping with the brooding, intense and vibrant medium full-bodied flavors that finish with a certain chewiness and moderate amounts of this wine's hallmark youthful austerity supported by a firmly tannic spine that will require 8 to 10 years to soften sufficiently to enjoy this.  (1/2009)