Nuits St Georges, Rouge, Clos de la Maréchale, 1er Cru, 2021

Compared to Frederic’s Chambolle cuvées the Clos de la Maréchale delivers deeper darker cherry fruit, yet this remains a mostly red fruited rendition with aromas of fresh tea adding complexity. Plump mulberry notes appear mid-palate. This has more structure than the Chambolle villages, but nevertheless remains translucent and detailed, with a fine grip to it – jewel like fruit, plenty of depth and wonderful supple satin texture. Polished minerals provide a firm, streamlined track along which the wine flows. A very sophisticated Nuit. At 9ha it is the largest monopole in the Cote d'Or, with an average vine age of 50 years old. Based in the Premeaux Prissey commune, where the wines are very structured, Clos de La Marechale is built for ageing. Freddy Mugnier's skill has been in taming the naturally tannic character of the wines without supressing any vineyard expression.