WTN: 2005 Michel Gros Hautes Côtes de Nuits

2005 Michel Gros Hautes Côtes de Nuits 13%
Classic, translucent ruby burgundy color. Nose of sour cherry and green stems. Aggressively tart when tasted without food, with mouthpuckering acidity. After food, the tartness comes into excellent balance with the sweetness. The cherry becomes more prominent, with a richness and boldness of flavor that feel sharply delineated and very pleasing. The green stems recede and some smokiness and a touch of barnyard emerge, with a grace note of cloves. While not a complex wine with a variety of flavors, this delivers the bourgogne experience with clarity and forwardness. Highly recommended as a food wine.

Surprised by the acidity in an '03. But as we discussed here recently, sometimes "lesser" terroirs do well in very hot vintages. The high HCdN areas often don't ripen sufficently, seems like they made it this time. I liked the '00 M. Gros, maybe the last under$10 red Burgundy I did like.

Sorry, your knowledgeable note made me realize that I wrote the wrong vintage: it was a 2005! Have now corrected that... I also have an 03 Gros HCdN in the wings, and had it on my mind for a comparative tasting.

ok, that makes more sense re the acidity. Point still holds that it takes a vintage with good ripeness like 2005 to make good HCdN ("rising tide lifts all boats"). Thanks for noticing.