Domaine Henri Gouges

The history of the estate

The domaine, located in Nuits-Saint-Georges in Burgundy, was acquired by Henri Gouges in 1920 amidst a decline in prices due to the First World War.

Henri Gouges is known not only for the great estate he founded, but also for his avant-gardism. He was one of the first to adopt bottling on the estate (as early as 1929). He was also president of the syndicat de défense des Grands Vins de Bourgogne and initiated the law on Appellations d'Origine Contrôlées.

2nd generation of the domaine, Michel and Marcel Gouges, modernized and developed it to 14 hectares in the 1940s. In the 1980s, the 3rd generation, Christian and Pierre Gouges, developed the worldwide export of vins de garde and turned to sustainable agriculture, with quality as their goal.

In the 2000s, Grégory and Antoine Gouges took the responsible, natural step of going organic. The 4th generation's program includes biodiversity, vine rooting, the development of micro-organisms, and the study of the earth and its exchanges with its environment.

Terroir

100% of the vines are located in Nuits-Saint-Georges. They cover 15 hectares and 10 different appellations, including seven AOC Premiers Crus, three Bourgognes and 2 AOC Villages.

The parcels are divided into 13.5 hectares of red and 1.5 hectares of white. Pinot Noir is the only red grape variety, while Pinot Blanc, known as "Pinot Gouges", is used exclusively for white wines. This variety was discovered in the 1930s by Henri Gouges when a branch of white grapes was found on a Pinot Noir vine.

Each parcel is different. For example, Les Premeaux has very stony, pink limestone soils; the southern part of Nuits-Saint-Georges, at the start of the hillside, is characterized by deep soils, a mixture of alluvial clay and limestone pebbles; and the "Saint-Georges" parcel is in the middle of the hillside, bordered in its upper part by the edge of the forest.

The wines

Le Clos des Porrets Henri Gouges has lovely energy, powerful sapidity and lovely, uncluttered substance. Its tannins are juicy and its finish is salivating. This is a wine for laying down.

The Nuits-Saint-Georges Villages is characterized by fine tannins and mellow freshness. The wine is full-bodied and nuanced with a very gourmand nose. It too has good ageing potential.

The Nuits-Saint-Georges 1er Cru les Vaucrains stands out for its intense, smoky nose and vibrant, streamlined, ripe material. Structured and long, it is carried by the freshness of its sap and salivating tannins.