Domaine de Bellene Vieilles Vignes Nuits-Saint-Georges 2022

From vines planted in 1952, harvested quite early, in the first days of September and aged in 25% new wood. The result is, like many 2022s, a ripe and fruity, almost monolithic example – I find it hard to distinguish terroirs in this vintage, though this has a significant degree of flesh and complexity, and in the end, it stands out for its cool limestone character, a sort of stoniness that other wines do not seem to possess, and indeed a strong sense of sapidity, salinity and minerality. Sharp value. Drink 2027-2034. Tasted August 2024. Score – 94. (John Szabo, MS, winealign.com)