Gouges Nuits-St-Georges 1er cru Les Vaucrains 2013

95 points John Gilman (View From the Cellar): "The 2013 Vaucrains is one of the smallest cuvées in the cellar this year, as after all the sorting was completed, the yields here were only eighteen hectoliters per hectare in this vintage! The wine has turned out absolutely stunning in potential, offering up a pure and bottomless nose of dark berries, black cherries, espresso, a beautifully complex base of soil, gamebirds, woodsmoke and just a hint of vanillin oak. On the palate the wine is deep, full-bodied, pure and very transparent, with a fine core of fruit, great focus and grip and a very long, perfectly balanced and ripely tannic finish. A magical bottle of young Vaucrains. 2025-2075. (Nov/Dec 2014)"

'Sweet spot/Outstanding' and 92-94 points Allen Meadows (Burghound): "(from a 1.08 ha mix of younger and older vines that average about 50+ years of age). A very spicy nose is composed of dense aromas of plum, violet, earth and pomegranate, all of which is trimmed in just enough wood to notice. The beautifully textured middle weight plus flavors possess excellent power and verve on the powerful finish that is shaped by a very firm core of ripe tannins. This is a deceptive wine as the mid-palate is supple to the point of being inviting yet the finale is firm to the point of mild austerity. Drink: 2027+. (Jan 2015)"

91-94 points Stephen Tanzer (Vinous): "(18 hectoliters per hectare produced): Full medium red. Very pure aromas of black cherry, black raspberry, mocha and chocolate mint, complicated by truffley underbrush. Sweet, sappy and deep; rich and tactile, combining lovely finesse of texture with obvious force. This highly concentrated, youthfully austere Vaucrains finishes with substantial dusty tannins and excellent persistence. Drink: 2025-2037. (Jan 2015)"