A Premier Cru Well Worth The Wait

Jacques-Frédéric Mugnier, Nuits St. Georges Premier, Cru Clos de la Maréchale, 2005
I'm very proud of myself for being so patient. This is one of the few 2005's I've managed to keep my hands off for so long - and it's glorious right now. Deep and broad, funky without being dirty, the black berries, forest floor and NSG iron filings have combined for entrenched power and a holistic effect that transcends its components. A wine you can sniff for hours and whose palate has matured wonderfully without showing any crack or weakness, its long finish is still tannic enough to promise even longer ageability. (May 8, 2020)

Clos de la Maréchale is a family monopole that had been farmed out to Faiveley for years until it was brought back to the fold with the 2004 vintage. Unless the single bottle of the Faiveley's rendition I tried was not representative, Faiveley were either lazy in their vineyard and cellar handling or totally missed the mark. In Mugnier's hands, it's typical of Nuits at its best - a workingman's wine, but one of the highest quality. Think of a 200$ pair of Levi's.

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