Clos des Fourches JF Mugnier Premier Cru Nuits Saint-Georges 2007

If you tried to find the Clos – or ‘vineyard’ – des Fourches, you’d struggle. It’s a historic name, that was abandoned in the 19th century because it means 'the gallows from which criminals were hanged', but has been resurrected by the current owners and we say bravo. We like a bit of darkness. Speaking of which… (we love a neat segue here), this Nuits Saint-Georges, is resplendent with black cherries, sharper notes of redcurrant and foresty goodness. And you know it’s dark in forests…

Created in 1863, it was initially a four hectares, but since Freddy Mugier took back the family’s old Nuits St-Georges Monopole, Clos de la Marechale, the Domaine has increased to 13 hectares. The aim is to produce wines that are each representative of their respective terroir and vintage, while at the same time having their individual character.

They do not use weed-killers and industrial fertilisers in the vineyard; neither of these have been used for 10 years, whilst in the cellars all processes that traumatise the wine, over extraction, for example, or excessive woodiness, are limited to a minimum. These are pure, stylish Burgundies of great finesse.

Clos des Fourches does not appear on maps of Burgundy because the name disappeared from the maps at the end of the 19th century, when the Clos became known as Clos de la Maréchale. The Mugiers decided to revive this name for a cuvée made from the younger vines of the Clos de la Maréchale in certain vintages.

In olden days, the word ‘fourches’ meant the gallows from which criminals were hanged and it is understandable that people preferred the name ‘La Maréchale’.

Deep, powerful but a very bright and lively expression of Nuits, black cherry and redcurrant fruit character, notes of fresh raspberry and crisp plum skin, grippy yet fine-tuned and profound. A highly distinguished 2007 – supple and approachable.