Henri Gouges came into possession of 9 hectares of exceptional vineyards in Nuits-St-Georges shortly after World War I. He significantly expanded his vineyard holdings between 1920 and 1934, and today, Domaine Henri Gouges encompasses 14.5 hectares, including seven of the finest 1er crus sites.
In 1933, along with Marquis d’Angerville and a select group of other wineries, Henri Gouges began bottling and selling his own wines directly to customers. Henri was a firm believer in low crop yields and was deeply committed to overseeing the vineyard’s productivity. This ethos has been passed down through the generations, and Domaine Henri Gouges has gained renown for consistently producing outstanding wines and pioneering innovations in winemaking.
Since its establishment in 1925, Domaine Henri Gouges has remained true to crafting classic Nuits-St-Georges wines that faithfully reflect the unique qualities of their terroirs. Presently, the estate is overseen by Henri’s grandchildren, Pierre and Christian, with Gregory, Pierre’s son, primarily responsible for the winemaking process.
One noteworthy innovation introduced by the estate in 1977 involved planting rye-grass between the rows of vines, a practice that proved to offer numerous advantages.
Beginning in 2008, the estate transitioned exclusively to organic farming practices, and in 2007, they introduced new, modern fermentation vats.
The winemaking process adheres to the traditional methods cherished by top Burgundy producers. It entails meticulous sorting before the complete destemming of grape bunches. Following a relatively lengthy cold maceration, fermentation takes place solely with naturally occurring yeasts at low temperatures (maximum 29 degrees Celsius). After fermentation concludes, the wines are held in tanks at 28 degrees Celsius for an additional 9-10 days to extract more color and tannins. Subsequently, the wines are transferred to oak barrels, with approximately 15-20% of them being new. After the malolactic fermentation, which occurs the following spring to summer, the various cuvées are blended separately in tanks to ensure uniformity.
The wines are then returned to barrels, where they mature until bottling, typically 18 months after the vintage.
The 1er crus category comprises some of the most esteemed vineyards in Nuits-St-Georges, including Les Chaignots, Chene Carteau, Les Pruliers, the exclusive Clos des Porrets-st-Georges monopole vineyard, and a full hectare each of the appellation’s most renowned vineyards, Les Vaucrains and Les Saint Georges.
Domaine Henri Gouges wines are imported into Canada by Domaine Selections. Contact us today!