The 2008 Bourgogne-Hautes Cotes de Nuits is a tight, focused wine laced with dark red fruit. The 2008 is a touch on the lean side, but the wine’s freshness and length will shine at the dinner table. Anticipated maturity: 2014-2020. This is a strong set of wines from Gilles Jayer. In 2009 the harvest took place from the 16th to the 24th of September. After vinification Jayer leaves the wines in oak with no racking until they are assembled prior to bottling. Jayer uses 100% new oak for all his wines. With the occasional exception of some of the entry-level offerings, the wines handle their new oak admirably well. I also had a chance to taste the 2008s. Aside from the Hautes Cotes de Beaune – which was too reduced to evaluate – the 2008s showed very well. Importer: Robert Kacher Selections, Washington, DC; tel. (202) 832-9083