2023 Faiveley Nuits St. Georges 1er Cru Les Damodes, Burgundy

Cask sample. Still more youthful than the Porrets with sandy tannins in evidence on the end. Still fairly embryonic. (JR)

16.5/20 Jancis Robinson

Les Damodes sits right up near the Vosne Romanée border, high on the slope where the soils thin out and the wines tend to take on a more lifted, finely cut profile. It often feels like a bridge between the two villages, carrying Nuits Saint Georges structure but with an added layer of perfume and finesse. Faiveley handles this site with a light touch, letting that natural elegance come through.

The 2023 opens with a beautifully fragrant mix, red cherry, raspberry and cranberry, laced with rose petal, orange peel and a gentle spice note. There is a brightness to it, but also a quiet depth sitting underneath, something slightly earthy and mineral that starts to emerge with air.

Give it a moment and it stretches out, layers of clove, dried herbs and a faint smoky note adding complexity. It feels detailed rather than powerful, everything in place but not forced.

There’s a real sense of line here. Tannins are fine and precise, giving shape without weight, while acidity keeps the wine moving with energy. The fruit stays in that red spectrum, and the finish carries on with spice, florals and a subtle stony edge that lingers.

This is a great one to pair with dishes that have both delicacy and flavour. Duck breast with a citrus glaze works beautifully, but it’s just as compelling with something like a mushroom and thyme tart, roasted beetroot with labneh, or a truffle laced pasta where the wine’s lift and savoury notes come into play.

It’s already very engaging with a bit of air, but there’s plenty ahead here, easily ten to fifteen years as it gains more complexity and softens into a more savoury, layered expression.