Visit to Domaine Nicolas Faure – tasting the 2019s from cask

It’s good to be back in the Meuilley cellar of Nicolas Faure, in a lovely village with for me a tricky name to spell – Meuilley, Meuilley, Meuilley, Meuilley – in the valley above Nuits-Saint-Georges 😝

On this visit I was with Paul Wasserman and his team, harking back to the first tasting we had in this cellar four years ago. It was a memorable tasting in so many ways, and one that put Meuilley on the map for me.

I have, as you know, covered the history of this estate and earlier vintages in previous articles (below if you need some background):

• Visit at Domaine Nicolas Faure – mesmerizing wines
• Visit Domaine Nicolas Faure, tasting of the 2016s from cask
• Visit Domaine Nicolas Faure, tasting of the 2017s from cask
• Visit Domaine Nicolas Faure, tasting of the 2018s from cask

What I can say is that I drink Nicolas Faure’s wines every time I can when I’m in Burgundy. It has become a tradition (a lovely tradition), as the wines suit my humble palate very well indeed. To me, and without being disrespectful in any way, these are vin de soif, as I like to enjoy them frequently.

These wines sort of define the concept of vin d’émotion for me. They have all that I need in a Burgundy wine – joy, emotion, drinkability – without having to sacrifice the house, or the car I don’t have, or the Danish Kingdoms financial security!

They are perhaps not the greatest wines in Burgundy, but they are nonetheless unique and very enjoyable, made as they are from little-known or less-known terroirs.

If you are looking for picture-perfect wines here, you are barking up the wrong vine. These are handmade wines made with the skills of one man, more or less in his spare time. He is – make no mistake! – very serious about his work, yet he seemingly also wants to produce wines that his friends and others can explore and enjoy without breaking the bank.

So without further ado, to the notes!

The Faure 2019s

Let’s face it: Tasting Faure’s 2018s puzzled me somewhat, as his Nuits-St-Georges Les Herbues left me confused with its warmish and slightly reduced note.

Yet I had faith, and the Herbues 2018 has come back with a vengeance. It just goes to show that you don’t ditch a trusted wine simply because of some early-days mood swings.

The 2019s are in very good form chez Faure. They are splendidly vivid, energetic wines, from the entry-level to the Aloxe-Corton and NSG Herbues that are the top terroirs in this lineup – and not counting the outstanding Bully Aligote.

Vins d’émotion as expected, this could well be the best line-up from Faure so far, although some prefer the cooler vintages.

Tasting notes from July 6th, 2020 – the 2019s from cask

The 2019s have the usual Faure qualities strongly expressed by the vivid style of the vintage; the uniquely fine tannins (presumably due to the old vertical press) are taking these wines to extraordinary levels. They do – like I have mentioned before – have an edge, a slightly wild spirit, a force-of-nature feeling that leaves them at once invigorating yet unpolished.

I learned from tasting the rather hotter 2018s that “the Faure wines can change somewhat when very young (in cask and even when first bottled). This is the kaleidoscopic nature of these wines – a certain unpredictability – that sometimes will surprise you, but usually please enjoy your mind, heart and palate.”

First of the red 2019s was the Coteaux Bourguignons Mes Gamay; as labeled, a Gamay-based wine.

Domaine Nicolas Faure Coteaux Bourguignons Mes Gamay 2019

The Coteaux Bourguignons Mes Gamay is a different ballgame from the hottish 2018. This is truly energetic and vivacious by any standard although it is, in fact, from quite a hot vintage also. The magic of 2019 brings the fineness forward in this somewhat overlooked variety. The fine tannins here really do give this wine a delicate flow.

(Drink from 2029) – Good – (87p) – Tasted 06/07/2020 from cask –

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Tasting Notes for this producer

• Domaine Nicolas Faure Bourgogne Aligote La Corvees de Bully 2017 February 19, 2019
• Domaine Nicolas Faure, Nuits-Saint-Georges Les Herbues 2016 November 23, 2018
• Domaine Nicolas Faure Bourgogne Aligote La Corvees de Bully 2014 June 21, 2017
• Domaine Nicolas Faure Nuits-Saint-Georges Les Herbues 2015 June 21, 2017
• Domaine Nicolas Faure, Bourgogne Aux Argillieres 2014 October 11, 2016
• Domaine Nicolas Faure Nuits-Saint-Georges Les Herbues 2014 October 11, 2016
• Domaine Nicolas Faure Aloxe-Corton 2015 July 31, 2016
• Domaine Nicolas Faure Bourgogne Aux Argillieres 2015 July 31, 2016
• Domaine Nicolas Faure Coteaux Bourguignons Mes Gamay 2015 July 31, 2016
• Domaine Nicolas Faure Nuits-Saint-Georges Les Herbues 2015 July 31, 2016
• Domaine Nicolas Faure Nuits-Saint-Georges Les Herbues 2014 July 31, 2016
• Domaine Nicolas Faure Nuits-Saint-Georges Les Herbues 2012 July 31, 2016
• Domaine Nicolas Faure Bourgogne Aligote La Corvees de Bully 2014 July 31, 2016
• Domaine Nicolas Faure Bourgogne Aligote La Corvees de Bully 2015 July 30, 2016
• Domaine Nicolas Faure, Bourgogne Aux Argillieres 2014 June 23, 2016

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