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(Domaine Thibault Liger-Belair Nuits St.-Georges Les St. Georges 1er Cru Red) This is primary to the point of being overtly grapey with an interesting mix of intense earth and game nuances that merge into solidly structured middle weight flavors that possess outstanding length and real depth. As good as the Petits Monts is, there is another dimension here. (Drink starting 2015)Burghound | 90-93 BHFrom substantial holdings planted with old vines, the Thibault Liger-Belair 2005 Nuits-St.-Georges Les St.-Georges displays both roasted, charred and raw red meatiness to a degree unusual for a Nuits-St.-Georges. Ripe black cherry and blackberry are also very much present, but this wine is not about sweetness of fruit. Substantial, firm but finely-tannic and formidably concentrated, it finishes with dark, faintly bitter berries, roasted meats, beef blood, a soy-like savor, and an intense yet hard to describe minerality. The wine tastes like something one should if anemic. Heady yet not hot in its nearly 15% alcohol, palpable extract rich and thick yet not leaden, it will need at least 5-7 years, I suspect, if it is to be tamed and refined at all. (The 2004, incidentally, was also powerful if very slightly lower in alcohol and displayed intriguing potential.)In this his fourth vintage, and (like his cousin at Comte Liger-Belair in Vosne-Romanee) young, ambitious in the pursuit of quality, well-traveled, and in the process of taking back family property from rental and negociant contracts, Thibault Liger-Belair is ensconced in deep, ancient, and bitterly-cold cellars in the center of Nuits-St.-Georges. He has begun pursuing a biodynamic regimen in his vineyards and has inaugurated a rigorously-controlled negociant arm (its wines labeled “Thibault Liger-Belair Successeurs” and designated “S” in my listings). He says he approached 2005 with great caution lest the wines lose polish and finesse to over-extraction of tannins. Certainly the results have included some very powerful and formidably structured wines. Low sulfur and a significant inclusion of whole clusters (“depending on the circumstances and site,” he says, “- I have no system”) are among other prominent features of Liger-Belair’s approach in 2005.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 91-93 RP(14.8% alcohol; vinified with 30% whole clusters) Bright red-ruby. Superripe aroma of black raspberry liqueur. Fat, sweet and powerful; a big, chocolatey-rich wine that retains freshness yet comes across as a bit heavy. Will make a major mouthful but today I don’t find the near-grand cru class of the best examples from this vineyard.Vinous Media | 89-92 VM

This round red ispacked with cherry, plum and spice flavors, with profuse tannins to keep it structured and well-defined. Nicely proportioned, though should benefit from a few years aging. Best from 2015 through 2028. 10 cases imported.Wine Spectator | 92 WS(Domaine Hudelot-Noëllat Nuits St. Georges "Murgers" 1er 1er Cru Red) A soft touch of wood frames ripe and mostly red fruit aromas that are cut with plenty of earth and spice notes, both of which are also reflected by the fleshy and quite generous middle weight plus flavors that offer excellent mid-palate concentration and a seductively textured finish that is slightly sweet. This very serious and sneaky long effort will need every bit of ten years to arrive at its full maturity. (Drink starting 2019).Burghound | 92 BH(Domaine Hudelot Noellat Nuits-Saint-Georges Les Murgers) Moderately saturated red. Musky aromas of strawberry and truffle, accented by spicy oak. Sweet, plump and voluminous, with a slightly liqueur-like quality to the red fruit and mocha flavors. Plenty of fat here for early pleasure but I wanted a bit more lift. The broad finish features dusty tannins.Vinous Media | 90 VM(Nuits St. Georges “Murgers”- Domaine Hudelot-Noëllat) The 2009 Murgers is a bit more closed on both the nose and palate than the exuberant Petits Vougeots, as it offers up scents of cherries, blood orange, spice tones, a touch of gamebird, minerals and a bit of vanillin oak. On the palate the wine is deep, fullish, long and tangy, with good focus and mid-palate depth, a nice spine of minerality running through the core and fine length and grip on the ripely tannic finish. Good juice. (Drink between 2017-2035).John Gilman | 90 JG

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.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 91-93 RP(Domaine Hudelot-Noëllat Nuits St. Georges "Les Murgers" 1er Cru Red) An exceptionally ripe nose displays a port-like nuance on the spicy and earthy dark raspberry and cassis-suffused nose. There is better freshness on the palate along with excellent richness and concentration to the powerful and mouthcoating middle weight plus flavors that deliver fine length on the very firm finale. This is impressive in its fashion though it’s a bit too ripe for me. (Drink starting 2030).Burghound | 90-92 BHThe 2018 Nuits Saint-Georges Les Murgers 1er Cru is blessed with a lovely bouquet of black cherries and touches of cassis and briar. Gorgeous. The palate is fresh and citrus-y on the entry. Taut tannins and a little compactness toward the finish, almost as if this was closing up. All the pleasure is loaded on the front end of this Les Murgers. Hopefully it will gain more flesh and depth on the finish by the time of bottling.Vinous Media | 90-92 VM(Nuits St. Georges “Murgers”- Domaine Hudelot-Noëllat) Though the 2018 Murgers here is 13.8 percent octane, it is a very pure and plummy wine and is not particularly ripe in profile on either the nose or palate. The bouquet wafts from the glass in a primary, but very promising blend of plums, red and black cherries, cocoa powder, a lovely base of soil tones, vanillin oak and a smoky topnote. On the palate the wine is deep, full-bodied and nicely reserved out of the blocks, with a fine core of fruit, excellent balance and grip, buried tannins and a long, nascently complex and focused finish. This is going to be an excellent wine in due course. (Drink between 2030-2070).John Gilman | 91+ JG

The 2019 Nuits Saint-Georges Les Bousselots 1er Cru has more delineation and freshness compared with the Chaignots, offering well-defined red cherry and strawberry fruit and more transparency. The palate is medium-bodied with supple, fine-boned tannins, good acidity and a vibrant, sorbet-fresh finish. Excellent.Vinous Media | 92-94 VMA more restrained and earthier nose displays more discreet oak on the ripe plum, dark cherry and newly turned earth scents. There is a beguiling sense of verve and underlying tension to the reasonably refined flavors that are shaped by firmer tannins on the lingering finish that is a bit less youthfully austere than it usually is. Good stuff with excellent development potential. (Drink starting 2031)Burghound | 91-93 BHThe 2019 Nuits-Saint-Georges 1er Cru Les Bousselots is showing beautifully in bottle, wafting from the glass with aromas of plums, rose petals, wild berries and warm spices. Medium to full-bodied, layered and complete, its velvety attack segues into an ample core of bright, succulent fruit framed by melting tannins.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 93 RP

Bursting with aromas of rose petals, orange rind, sweet wild berries, spices and dark chocolate, the 2019 Nuits-Saint-Georges 1er Cru Les Chaignots is medium to full-bodied, lively and perfumed, with powdery tannins and a generous core of succulent fruit.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 91-93 RPThe 2019 Nuits Saint-Georges Les Chaignots 1er Cru has a ripe, very floral bouquet of kirsch and raspberry jam infused with pressed violet, quite opulent and generous. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannins, very sorbet-like and slightly savory toward the finish, which features brown spices sprinkled over red berry fruit. Fine persistence here, although the oak will require time to assimilate.Vinous Media | 90-92 VMHere too there is just enough wood influence to mention framing the much spicier blend of red currant and dark cherry. The sleeker and more refined medium-bodied flavors possess even better detail and verve on the lingering if mildly toasty finish. (Drink starting 2029)Burghound | 90-92 BH

The 2019 Nuits-Saint-Georges 1er Cru Les Perrières is similarly promising, mingling aromas of wild berries and cassis with notions of licorice, dark chocolate and spices. Medium to full-bodied, bright and chalky, with a tightly wound core, powdery tannins and a long, mineral finish, it’s very true to type.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 92-94 RPThe 2019 Nuits Saint-Georges Les Perrières 1er Cru has a very intense and almost exotic bouquet of raspberry confit, fig and marmalade scents. The palate is medium-bodied with grippy tannins and a fine bead of acidity. Slightly savory in quality, it delivers a gamy finish; it will be intriguing to see whether this remains after bottling.Vinous Media | 91-93 VMThis too is aromatically cool and elegant with its pretty array of slightly more elegant essence of ripe red berry fruit aromas that reflects hints of spice, earth and wood. The succulent but decidedly punchy medium weight flavors brim with both minerality and dry extract that imparts a sappy texture to the beautifully well-delineated, powerful and serious finale. Patience absolutely required. (Drink starting 2034)Burghound | 91-93 BH

The 2019 Nuits Saint-Georges Aux Boudots 1er Cru, aged in 50% new oak, has an intense bouquet of floral and violet aromas joined by dark berry fruit and a touch of tobacco. The palate is medium-bodied and quite mineral-driven, with gentle grip and a savory, earthy, quite broody finish. This should be fascinating to watch evolve in bottle.Vinous Media | 91-93 VM(Domaine Georges Noëllat Nuits St. Georges "Les Boudots" 1er Cru Red) This is also notably ripe with its blend of plum, dark raspberry, range of spice elements and an exotic tea nuance. There is very good freshness and vibrancy to the delicious medium weight plus flavors that exude a discreet minerality on the dusty, moderately austere and firm but not rigid finale. This will need at least a few years to develop better depth and shed some of its tannic spine. (Drink starting 2029)Burghound | 89-92 BH