Domaine de la Vougeraie Nuits-St.-George 1er Les Damodes - 2022 (750ml)

Les Damodes’s origins, Celtic or Gallo-Roman, are lost in the midst of time. Does this name conjure up a trinity of female deities, similar to the Bonnes Mares? Protectresses of earthly fruit and maternity, these goddesses were worshipped in the region. To the east of Nuits, the Gallo-Roman settlement of Les Bolards covered 15 hectares, and had a very active Mithraic temple. Or perhaps the name evokes druidesses who lived in the coomb. From the Middle Ages, Nuits wine took on a separate identity distinguishing it from Beaune wine. Whereas the Côte de Beaune produced a light-coloured wine (œil-de-perdrix), best drunk young or even primeur, the Côte de Nuits strove to produce a dark velvety-coloured wine, a wine to lay down, deliberately powerful and tannic. It ages well due to its solid qualities, which were highly appreciated in the 17th and 18th centuries at the Court of Versailles, as well as abroad. The German courts were particularly partial to Nuits wine. Nuits wine is renowned for ageing well, whereas Beaune wine is best drunk younger. At that time a Burgundy wine was synonymous with Nuits.

(91-93 points) Vinous Media

"The 2022 Nuits Saint-Georges Les Damodes 1er Cru has a well-defined bouquet of blackberry, wild strawberry, and light violet aromas, with a light potpourri note in the background. The palate is medium-bodied with sappy red fruit and fine acidity, quite fresh and lively towards the finish with what feels more elegant than the Clos des Thorey." Neal Martin