Jacques Frederic Mugnier Nuits St. Georges Clos de la Marechale Rouge 1er Cru 2010 (750ML)

92+ VM / 92 BH / 92 JM / 18 JR

Very deep, bright red. Sappy black cherry, raspberry, cola and licorice on the nose, plus a whiff of animal fur. Big, deep and chocolatey, with serious depth of black cherry and dark berry fruit. The big Nuits-Saint-Georges tannins are sexed up by high-toned oak spices on the impressively long finish. Jacques-Frederic Mugnier punches down the cap late in the fermentation, when the juice is almost dry and the skins have softened, an approach that he believes results in a steadier uptake of sugar in his wines-Stephen Tanzer, Vinous Media

Tasting note: An overtly ripe yet agreeably fresh nose mixes notes of spice, plum, earth and black cherry. The rich, velvety and opulent medium weight plus flavors are still notably youthful and muscular yet the abundant sap buffers the moderately firm tannic spine on the delicious, lengthy and ever-so-slightly warm finale. This is also still very much on the way up and while the excellent level of dry extract would allow this to be enjoyed now, I would again be inclined to allow it another few years of cellaring first. This isn't classic and stylistically I prefer the 2010 but with that said, the '09 is excellent nonetheless. Drink 2024+. –Allen Meadows, Burghound

One of the paler colours, the bouquet is gently graceful, not suggesting the depth and weight of fruit to come behind. Some good acidity confirms the impeccable balance. This is becoming approachable but can be kept. It has an impressive intensity of fruit despite the relatively light body. Tasted: June 2018.-Jasper Morris, Inside Burgundy

I thought this was a quite lovely wine on the night – possibly one of the best-value too. Rich, racy and complete that was both luscious and fresh. Lifted, long and silky, it seemed to be almost swishing its skirts. Clever chap, that Fred Mugnier.-Jancis Robinson