Domaine de L'Arlot 2018 Nuits Saint Georges 1er Cru Mont Des Oiseaux

Robert Parker 89-91 Points: "Produced from young vines within the Clos de l'Arlot, the 2018 Nuits-Saint-Georges 1er Cru Cuvée Mont des Oiseaux reveals scents of cherries, raspberries, warm spices and dark chocolate. On the palate, it's medium to full-bodied and youthfully chewy, with chalky tannins that will likely flesh out with further élevage.

Geraldine Godot began harvest for the Domaine de l'Arlot on September 1 in Vosne-Romanée Les Suchots. While this 14-hectare property has been associated with whole-cluster fermentation since the days of Jean-Pierre de Smet, Godot—whose career includes stints with Alex Gambal, Philippe Colin and Claire Naudin—chose to use relatively little this year after tasting the grapes and stems. Percentages of new oak—which she has reduced since taking the reins from Jacques Desvauges in 2015—were modest. The result is a fine portfolio of deep, youthfully muscular wines that will reward further élevage as well as bottle age. I also looked at the Domaine de l'Arlot 2017s from bottle, and they were showing beautifully, with the brilliant 2017 Clos des Forêts St Georges meriting particular attention. Supple and satiny but impressively concentrated, they are a model of charm and elegance and shouldn't be overlooked."

Neal Martin 89-91 Points: "The 2018 Nuits Saint-Georges Mont des Oiseaux 1er Cru, which comes from the youngest vines inside Clos de l’Arlot, is matured in 30% new oak. It comes from clonal selection vines instead of massal selection for the Clos de l’Arlot. The fragrant bouquet features scents of black cherries, cassis and light violet aromas that are neatly integrated with the oak. The medium-bodied palate offers a smooth entry. There is decent density to this Mont des Oiseaux, and a slightly peppery and persistent finish. Good freshness here, but it deserves three years in bottle."