Domaine Nicolas ‘Les Charmes Dessous’ Santenay
25% new barrels, 12 months aging over all. This little burg is just outrageously good. The fruit of 2018 is mythical. Compared to 2013 or 2014, well there is no comparison. The reason we buy Burgundy is every so often the vintages can be god sent such as 2018. I personally believe that the best vintages are slightly jammy at the beginning, and later exhibit pure finesse. … The fruit in this wine is more on the dark side by the by.
The secondary notes then can come out in abundance such as the tea’s and orange rind, etc - 2018 was very warm, very little rain, no mildew, all of these various plights you will find in 2013 or 2014. Don't get me wrong , I love these vintages too, but when it's good, it's unbeatable. The wines are more viscous, a little heavier, and more substance and texture. The 2018 vintage will cellar well whereas 2013, or ‘14 is drinking now and should be drunk up. All of what I am writing now I realize are over ten years of drinking experience. I understand now what the tasters knew when they tasted 1982 Bordeaux, it had the weight immediately.
One point I would like to make for my fellow Americans when trying Burg is that this is not Californian, nor Oregon wine. There are substantial differences in that on the west coast we have higher temperatures, more rigorous planting, more fruit, less limestone, more acidic soils, and more photosynthesis which leads to higher sugar content in the fruit. It is not comparable and I feel it is a mistake to make these comparisons. Keep an open mind when drinking these wines, as they differ greatly from vintage to vintage, climat to climat, producer to producer, these wines are artisanal and can achieve high $ values for these very reasons. Enjoy.
