Wine Advisor
Robert Chevillon, Nuits St Georges 1er Cru Les Vaucrains 2018
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Description
Robert Chevillon, Vaucrain, Nuits Saint Georges, 1er Cru, Burgundy, France, Still, Red, 2005
Tasting notes
Reviewed by: Neal Martin
The 2018 Nuits Saint-Georges Les Vaucrains 1er Cru does not quite deliver the complexity of its peers, perhaps just a touch of reduction at play here. I suspect that this just requires time. The palate is medium-bodied with chewy tannins, dense and weighty, a "heavy" NSG that lacks grace and mineralité, though I appreciate the spiciness and dark chocolate note on the aftertaste. Quintessentially 2018 Côte de Nuits in style. Tasted blind at the Burgfest 2018 red tasting.
Reviewed by: Neal Martin
The 2018 Nuits Saint-Georges Les Vaucrains 1er Cru matches Chevillon’s Les Saint-Georges pound for pound in terms of intensity and precision, offering brambly black fruit, crushed rock, tangerine and raspberry preserve scents that blossom with aeration. The medium-bodied palate features very supple tannins and pitch-perfect acidity, although perhaps at the moment the Les Saint-Georges demonstrates more complexity and terroir expression toward the finish. The Vaucrains is more introspective and remains a little aloof on the finish (at least for now). One for the cellar.
About the Producer
The stunning collection of premier cru and old-vine vineyards held by the two Chevillon brothers would make any Pinot Noir grower jealous. Their innate ability to carefully tend the vines and master the difficult Burgundian conditions provides ripe, healthy clusters of grapes year after year. Taste through the barrels of Chevillon post-harvest and it doesn't matter what happened the year before, almost as if by miracle, the wines show class and character and each terroir has its distinct idiosyncrasies. It is le vrai Pinot chez Chevillon. Brothers Bertrand and Denis Chevillon are the fifth generation managers of this property in Nuits- Saint-Georges, which means they work the vines and make the wines. Their father Robert, for whom the domaine is named, is still active as well. Both brothers bring passion, experience, a tireless work ethic, and intensity to their work at the domaine. Tasting through their palate of Nuits- Saint-Georges is a venerable tour of the appellation. Their Passetoutgrain, a blend of Pinot and Gamay, is a worthy introduction and their rare (two barrels made) Nuits-Saint-Georges Blanc made from the “Pinot Gouges” is an exotic treasure that ages just as long as the domaine’s fabled reds. And their Bourgogne Aligoté, Bourgogne Chardonnay and Bourgogne Rouge are grown and vinified with the same care as their premier crus.
