The 2021 Nuits Saint-Georges Clos des Fôrets Saint Georges 1er Cru has a slight metallic reduction on the nose that takes considerable aeration to dislodge. Tart red fruit laced with allspice lies underneath, though it is tightly coiled. The palate is medium-bodied with crisp tannins, crunchier in texture than Liger-Belair's Clos des Grand Vignes, with redder fruit leaning into a more ferrous style. Quite peppery towards the finish, although it has less substance and is just a bit harder than some might like. Perhaps it will soften with time? Maybe in a dumb phase given its wonderful showing from barrel. Tasted blind at the Burgfest tasting.

Monopole of 7.2 ha (17.8 acres). Deep-medium cherry. Red cherries, raspberry and a little darker plum. Darker and serious, showing more classic Nuits-St-Georges typicality in the structure and the character of fruit. Firm and slightly ferrous. Very structured on the finish. (MH)

Cask sample. Lively and fresh with very marked frankness of fruit. But a little richer than some. Long! (JR)