Domaine Henri Gouges Nuits St. Georges 1er Cru La Perrière Blanc

The 1988 Gouges La Perrière blanc is a beautiful bottle of white Burgundy which still displays an impeccably youthful color—on appearance it could be a 2010. The nose leads with a pretty classic white Burgundy constellation of apple, lemon, pear and toasted hazelnut, opening up to show some smoky notes suggestive of lapsang souchong tea and iodine. On the palate the wine is crisp, fresh and finishes with tingling minerality. So much more than a curio: a lovely surprise!