On the nose, faint ripples of sweet wood smoke and tart crème fraîche flow gently into bold notes of savoury fennel, celeriac and roasted tea leaves. Plunge further and discover alluring aromas of charcoal and lightly burnt toast. A splash of water releases a gust of fresh sea spray, followed by eucalyptus oil and pine. Finally, this irresistible nose ends with an unmistakable top note of saddle soap and leather. An intensely salty mouthfeel shifts like the tides into soothing medicinal notes, followed by salted peanut brittle, smoked pineapple and lime juice. Waves of aniseed lap over the palate, before rich fudge, birch tar and peat smoke crash down wildly. This is a dram that coaxes you in, and all assumptions are best left behind. Simply let this alluring spirit surprise and delight. Savoury and smoky notes collide in a sharp, intense, yet satisfyingly long finish

Wine Advocate (93)

The 2015 Nuits-Saint-Georges 1er Cru Clos des Corvées Pagets, one of Domaine Arnoux-Lachaux's emblematic wines, wafts from the glass with a complex bouquet of plums, candied peel, violets and raspberries. On the palate, the wine is full-bodied and complete, with a deep core of fruit, crystalline purity, and fine-grained but chalky tannins. Structurally, this is classic Premeaux.

Vinous (91-93)

The 2017 Nuits Saint-Georges Les Corvées Pagets 1er Cru is 100% whole bunches. It has a very intense bouquet of brambly red fruit, briar, wild heather and light crushed rock aromas; more tertiary scents (damp moss?) emerge with time. The medium-bodied palate features supple tannin and just a slight lactic tincture on the entry, layers of tart red fruit infused with minerals and even a cheeky hint of Turkish Delight on the finish. This feels very long and tender.

Jancis Robinson (16.5)

1.42 ha from seven lieux-dits in the north of the appellation. 100% whole bunch. Lightish cherry red but greyish rather than crimson. A little more savoury than the Bourgogne and a very slight stemmy herbal note but it's subtle. A little bit peppery. More tension here than in the Bourgogne, a little lighter in obvious fruit and a little more tannic but barely so. Super-fresh. Dry and lingering. So elegant.

A youthful, vibrant whisky matured in refill Bourbon hogsheads, this comes from the legendary run of spirit that made the impossible-to-find Port Charlotte PC1, which is presently unavailable anywhere in the world. The nose is loaded with waves of gentle but generous smoke, coastal sea breeze, boat oil and a touch of tarred ropes. Some touches of fresh, tart fruit crop up to contribute to the overall balance, making this a majestic Islay par excellence. No colour added, natural cask strength - 63.5%.

Bunnahabhain is a truly special distillery and there are few independent bottlers who have managed to secure more impressive casks from this unique Islay distillery than Signatory. Also trust them to exercise such supreme patience as to wait until this reached perfection at 42 years of age! Very few distilleries can hit such an advanced age without falling apart but Bunnahabhain's finely honed spirit is uniquely balanced and perfect for extensive maturation. Matured in a refill sherry butt and bottled at natural cask strength of 47.9% with incredible finesse, dried fruit flavours and an elegant spiciness. 427 bottles filled in 2016.

This must be considered the absolute pinnacle of Bunnahabhain's achievements in recent years. A composition of several exceptionally aged casks, the youngest of which is 40 years old, rigorously selected based on their expression of Bunnahabhain's iconic rich, maritime style, this is Islay as you've never seen it before. A magical dram, a finessed yet hedonistic display of dried sultana, raisin and toffee apple with cinnamon spice, salted dark chocolate and burned orange peel, this wraps up with an unmistakably coastal flourish to finish dry on the palate and leave you always wanting more. Bottled at natural cask strength of 41.8% in a run of just 1,000 bottles. Released in 2018 and now exceedingly rare on the market.

The very high quality of ageing vessel gives an elegant interpretation of Caol Ila's classic peat. Medicinal and iodine are the predominant scents that fit well into the whole aromatic structure that supports and accompanies it. Tones of medicinal herbs, vanilla, leather in the background and licorice complete it and make it complex enough to let us fly with imagination. Just 161 bottles filled from a single cask at 45% ABV.

A single cask Islay malt matured in undersized ex-Bourbon barrels previously used to mature Bourbon whiskey at the Koval Distillery, showcasing Caol Ila’s classic oily maritime qualities with aromas of sweet, earthy peat, sea breeze and iodine alongside pungent, warming spices evoking cinnamon, cumin, smoked pepper and cardamom. A finish laced with eucalyptus and dried mint makes for a restrained, finessed Islay with a long, dynamic finish. Bottled at a natural cask strength of 58.1% without colouring or filtration.

The second bottling from the Stewart Whisky Company in their Stiùbhart Single Cask selection, released in March 2021 at 13 years of age in a limited run of just 132 bottles.

Expertly crafted by renowned vigneron David Duband, the exquisite David Duband Nuits-Saint-Georges Rouge 2018 embodies the distinct characteristics of its terroir. Hailing from high-quality, biodynamically farmed vineyards in the Côte de Nuits region of Burgundy, France, this red wine is a paragon of pinot noir excellence.

Meticulously harvested and performed whole-cluster fermentation, this wine showcases Duband's minimalist approach. Each Berry underwent a cold soak before fermentation to extract the right tannins and colour and is naturally fermented, without any additional yeasts. The wine aged for 14 months in French oak barrels and bottled unfined and unfiltered.

Nuanced layers of ripe red fruits, spice, and earthy undertones are elegantly woven together in the David Duband Nuits-Saint-Georges Rouge 2018, rendering a mouth-watering acidity and a refined finish. Truly, this vintage stands as a testament to David Duband's mastery and commitment to authenticity.

Wine Advocate (92-94)

Aromas of cassis, plums, orange rind and spicy new oak preface Faiveley's 2019 Nuits-Saint-Georges 1er Cru Les Damodes, a medium to full-bodied, deep and lively wine with a concentrated core of fruit, framed by powdery tannins. Concluding with a long, mineral finish, it's another fine bottling from this cool, high-altitude and northeast-exposed site.

Decanter (95)

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.

Vinous (91-93)

Bright ruby-red. Captivating violet and lavender lift to the aromas of black cherry, menthol and bitter chocolate. Juicy, energetic and sharply delineated, showing terrific thrust to its dark fruit, licorice and spice flavors. I would have picked this blind as a 2013. This will require at least several years of bottle aging.

Wine Advocate (90-92)

The 2019 Nuits-Saint-Georges Village is a fine follow-up to the excellent 2018 rendition, bursting from the glass with notes of wild berries, orange rind, warm spices and rich soil tones. Medium-bodied, lively and precise, it's deep and concentrated, with a seamless profile and beautifully powdery tannins. Cropped at a modest 30 hectoliters per hectare, it's a cuvée that seems to go from strength to strength as yields fall.

Vinous (87-89)

The 2020 Nuits Saint-Georges Village, which contains 60% whole bunch, perhaps does not quite display the cohesion of the Vosne-Romanée at the moment. The palate is medium-bodied with quite a high-toned floral entry, exuberant and quite showy, though without the same breeding as the aforementioned.

Jasper Morris Inside Burgundy (90-92)

Made from two-thirds Chaillots to one-third Lavières. 10% whole bunch. A full purple. The nose is a little less expressive than the Vosne Romanée but very typical of the appellation, plums and red berries together. There is a good depth of fruit behind, deepening further back on the palate, then a fresh finish with lively tannins and good acidity. Drink from 2026-2031. Tasted: December 2022

Jasper Morris Inside Burgundy (89-92)

Fullish yellow, some apples but riper here than the Coteaux Bourguignons. A little touch of oak, 25% new. This really comes into its own on the palate, still showing some oak and a bit of bacon fat but the ripe apples now give it plenty of flesh. Not mainstream but a thoroughly interesting wine. Picked a week before the reds. Drink from 2024-2027.

Vinous (92)

The 2018 Nuits Saint-Georges Clos des Porrets Saint-Georges 1er Cru has a well-defined bouquet, a mélange of red and black fruit, sous-bois and touches of crushed stone. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannins, saline and slightly peppery with a structured, quite firm yet balanced finish. Give this another couple of years in bottle. Tasted blind at the Burgfest 2018 red tasting.

Tim Atkin MW (94)

Antoine Gouges says this is a cooler terroir, like its neighbor Ch nes Quarteaux, because it is flatter and the Combe des Vallerots runs down one edge. Still, the warmth of the vintage comes through in the fruit with succulent blackberries and cassis. The tannins are, again, more old school with some stern grip. The focused, long finish shows a hint of oak toast with crushed slate. Just give this some time in bottle. 2025-40

Jasper Morris Inside Burgundy (92-94)

Bottled yesterday! A vibrant fresh mid purple. Lots of energy too on the nose. Perhaps seems a little richer after yesterday’s bottling, which may have slightly muddied the waters - but this is clearly a good wine with plenty of dark red fruit and a good thread of acidity. The tannins are gentle. Drink from 2027-2033. Tasted: November 2022

Jancis Robinson (17)

Deepish cherry red. Ripe, sweet, dark fruit, more damson than red fruit. Sweetly ripe with a dash of spice. Finest of tannin texture bringing elegance to the dark fruit.

Vinous (91-93)

The 2020 Nuits Saint-Georges Les Pruliers 1er Cru did not suffer too much hail according to Antoine Gouges, at most 5%. This is very ripe and slightly gourmand on the nose, light savory notes emerging with time. The palate is medium-bodied with ripe tannins, nicely controlled and then just tightening up towards the finish that shows just a bit of VA. Quite dense of a Pruliers, give this some time in the cellar.

Vinous (93)

The 2021 Nuits Saint-Georges Les Pruliers 1er Cru comes across a little muted on the nose compared to its peers, maybe just a little subdued, though it will open with bottle age. The palate is medium-bodied with chalky tannins, citrus-fresh with a little more weight towards the finish. This conveys perhaps the most energy from Gouge's white 2021 with fine persistency on the aftertaste. Classy.

Vinous (92-95)

Bright dark red. The most reduced of these 2016s on the nose today, offering scents of cherry, plum, licorice and mocha. Densely packed, fine-grained and sweet, showing terrific juicy cut and vinosity to its primary dark fruit, chocolate and violet flavors. Finishes with serious but essentially smooth tannins and rising purple fruits that saturate the mouth and leave the taste buds glistening. At once more refined and more powerful than the Vaucrains, this wine is built for a graceful evolution in bottle.

Vinous (94)

The 2021 Nuits Saint-Georges Les Saint-Georges 1er Cru, 100% de-stemmed but with some whole berries in the vat, has quite a perfumed nose with potpourri and lavender infusing the expressive red berry fruit with a touch of chalk dust. The palate is very harmonious and persistent with a fine silver bead of acidity, exuding impressive mineralité on the finish that linger in the mouth. Excellent.

Decanter (94)

Les Vaucrains was hit twice by hail in 2018 - in a year when even a single storm was rare - which reduced yields in the vineyard. This can be a little austere in most vintages - the bony soils sit right on the bedrock (hence its name, meaning 'worth nothing') - but is way less so here. Sweet wild berry and strawberry jam flavours are underpinned by sinewy tannins and supporting acidity.

Burghound (91-94)

(from a 1.08 ha mix of younger and older vines that average about 50+ years of age). Discreet wood influence surrounds the notably ripe and fresh aromas of cassis, plum liqueur, earth and evident sauvage wisps. There is excellent richness and volume to the suave, round and seductive mid-palate of the broad-shouldered flavors that contrast markedly with the very firmly structured, youthfully austere and impressively persistent finish. As is usually the case, this is very compact and backward and a wine that will require extended aging to reach its peak. (91-94)/2036+

Burghound (88)

A more deeply pitched and markedly earthier nose reveals notes of both red and dark currant along with a hint of the sauvage. The rich, velvety and caressing medium weight flavors are almost easy-going and delicate on the delicious and lightly structured finale. This delicious effort is definitely not a classic Nuits but it’s attractive all the same.

Wine Advocate (91-93)

Wafting from the glass with aromas of cassis, red fruit compote, potpourri and smoked meats, the 2018 Nuits-Saint-Georges 1er Cru Les Murgers is medium to full-bodied, gourmand and textural, with a deep core of fruit framed by rich structuring tannins and ripe acids. This is a dramatic but nicely balanced Murgers from Hudelot-Noellat.