A brooding and ultra-serious nose features notes of black berry liqueur along with plenty of earth and game nuances. There is fine verve to the imposing, robust and overtly muscular big-bodied flavors that are shaped by very firm and somewhat rustic tannins on the very powerful and palate coating finish. Despite the considerable size and weight this remains very well balanced though note well that this will require plenty of cellar time. In sum, this is textbook Vaucrains.

Tasted blind at the Burgfest tasting in Beaune, the 2013 Nuits Saint-Georges 1er Cru Les Vaucrains has a bright red plum, wild strawberry and balsamic-tinged bouquet, a little high-toned at first but gaining more composure in the glass. The palate is medium-bodied with fine and quite "solid" tannin that lend this backbone, good grip in the mouth with a punchy spicy finish that leaves you wanting more. There is a lot of substance here and it still feels tightly wound, but I suspect that it will mature well. One of Chauvenet's superior 2013s. Tasted September 2016. - NM