Gouges Nuits-St-Georges 1er cru Chênes Carteaux 2012

93 points Neal Martin (Wine Advocate): "The 2012 Nuits St Georges 1er Cru Les Chênes Carteaux has a clean and bright bouquet with brambly red berry fruit, plenty of undergrowth, damp tobacco and roof tile scents. This is very expressive with fine delineation and the linearity that it demonstrated from barrel. The palate is medium-bodied with crisp tensile tannin, plenty of citric fruit, quite linear at the moment with a sense of energy on the stony, stoic finish. Excellent. Drink: 2018-2035. (Jun 2015)"

93 points Wine Spectator: "An effusive nose of flowers, fruit, spice and vegetal elements combine to make this red complex. The juicy texture is offset by bright acidity and firm, chalky tannins. Long finish. Best from 2018 through 2033. 125 cases imported. (6/30/15)"

93 points Wine & Spirits: "Deeply concentrated... this Nuits’ color matches a red cherry, and yet it feels light and effortless on the palate, building graceful power over a buzz of deep cherry flavor that seems to come out of the fruit skins, out of the earthy tannins. There’s a gaminess to the wine that builds out of that rooty, dusty cherry-skin savor. A beautiful 2012, carrying both Gouges’s winemaking imprint and a fascinating expression of Nuits. (Oct 2015)"

90-93 points Fine Wine Review: "The Nuits-Chênes Carteaux is firmer, more tannic, and darker in fruit than the Chaignots with more backbone -- all what one would expect as we shift location of vineyard from the Côte de Vosne to the vineyards just south of the town of Nuits. But there is still finesse here. (Issue #141; 2014)"

92 points John Gilman (View From the Cellar): "Chaînes de Carteaux is one of the smallest premier crus in all of Nuits St. Georges, but one cannot really argue with its placement, as it is sandwiched at the top of the hill between the border of Prémeaux to the south and Vaucrains to the north, with Les St. Georges lying directly below it on the slope. Not bad neighbors! The 2012 Chaînes de Carteaux is going to be a superb bottle of Nuits, as the nose jumps from the glass in a blend of red and black cherries, cocoa, gamebirds, a bit of nutskin, a very refined base of soil tones and a smoky topnote. On the palate the wine is deep, full-bodied and very sappy at the core, with great soil drive on the backend, moderate, suave tannins, sound acids and outstanding focus and grip on the long and very well-balanced finish. A really lovely bottle of wine in the making. 2021-2045. (Nov/Dec 2013)"

90-92 points Stephen Tanzer (International Wine Cellar): "Bright, full red. Red cherry and smoke on the nose. Juicy, vinous and fine-grained but also with good volume to the sweet red fruit flavors. Lovely peppery acidity gives lift to the wine. Finishes with pliant tannins and excellent saline persistence. Nicely concentrated wine from the south side of the village. (Jan 2014)"

90-92 points Antonio Galloni (Vinous): "Blue and purple fruit, smoke, licorice, violets and cloves flesh out in the 2012 Nuits St. Georges Les Chênes Carteaux. This is an especially round, supple Chênes Carteaux with tons of near and medium-term appeal. The round, silky finish is polished and beautifully resonant, all of which suggest the 2012 will drink better earlier than some of the other wines in this range. Drink: 2016-2027. (Jan 2014)"