2000 Jayer-Gilles Cote de Nuits-Villages

[wondersofwine]

Imported by Hart Distributing, Weaverville, NC. On sale for about $23 a bottle for multiple-bottle purchase; normally about $45 a bottle. Jayer-Gilles producer is a cousin of better known Henri Jayer. Producer uses 100% new oak.

Color: brilliant dark red; can see (barely) fingers at stem or sides of glass through the wine. Viscous quality, forming legs on sides of glass.
Nose: powerful bouquet coming together from dark fruits (mulberries, blueberries), violets, earth.
Palate: rich dark fruit, cedar, leather, chewy texture; some fairly mild tannins, lengthy finish.
Could easily be taken for a Premier Cru Burgundy. Indicative of the complexity, at an earlier tasting I sensed more vegetables (mushrooms and beets) and gamey quality (rare beef or oxen) than fruit. This time the fruit seems obvious. Weighs in on the "refined" rather than "rustic" side but has that element of earthiness and gaminess as well as core fruit. I tried this wine twice at a restaurant/wine bar before purchasing six bottles. It still "wows" me!

Had with center slice of baked ham and ziti pasta in a creamy marsala sauce with porcini 'shrooms, black truffles and sliced ripe olives.

[This message has been edited by wondersofwine (edited 01-05-2004).]