A focused, even racy red, whose blackberry, black cherry, earth and spice notes are fused to the linear frame. Shows fine concentration, balance and length, yet needs some time to unwind. Best from 2026 through 2043. - Bruce Sanderson
Nuits-Saint-Georges 1er Cru “Les Damodes” Reviews
The 2016 Nuits Saint Georges 1er Cru Les Damodes contains 80% whole bunch fruit and was one of the last to finish its malo (it had been racked three weeks earlier). The nose is clean and fresh, nicely focused with fine delineation. The palate has a pastille-like purity on the entry, supple tannin, quite powerful but with wonderful finesse and focus toward the finish. This is a clear step up from the Clos de Thorey for me. Superb.
Smoky cherry, spice and herb aromas and flavors mark this detailed, elegant red. Despite the lacy texture, this is stony and tight, with a chalky feel on the finish.
Good medium red. Pure but subdued aromas of currant, black cherry, smoky stone, licorice and violet. Intensely flavored and evolving slowly, combining a restrained sweetness and good salty minerality. Darker in its fruit character than the Clos de Thorey. The wine's strong, spicy, tannic finish calls for more élevage. -- Stephen Tanzer
The expressive and notably ripe nose is even spicier with its more deeply pitched combination of various dark berry liqueur-like aromas that are laced with earth, floral and game hints. There is more volume and power to the medium weight flavors that also possess a relatively fine mouth feel, all wrapped in a detailed finish that displays focused power and excellent depth and length. Good stuff.
Good medium red. Cool, medicinal black cherry, blueberry and violet on the nose. Concentrated, ripe and sappy, showing excellent texture and intense spice character for the vintage. Finishes juicy and long, with some very ripe chocolate tones and big, tactile tannins that avoid dryness. This will need patience. —Stephen Tanzer
The 2014 Nuits Saint Georges 1er Cru Les Damodes, which includes 60% whole cluster fruit, has a clean and pure, detailed bouquet that is the "sister" of the 2014 Clos de Thorey.. The palate is medium-bodied with filigree tannin, nicely balanced but perhaps needing to develop more substance towards the finish. This is a good Nuits Saint Georges that might well meliorate significantly in bottle.