The 2005 Nuits-St.-Georges Les Petits Plets represents the young (up to 20 years of age) vines of the Clos des Forets St.-Georges, and was still in barrel when I tasted. Plum, cherry and their pits inform both the nose and palate. Clean, ripe fruit accented by bitter chocolate, boxwood, and tart fruit skin, cling with a faintly oily textural suggestion. In contrast with the creaminess of the more delicate young vines cuvee from the Clos de l ‘Arlot, this exhibits abundant, slightly grainy tannins. Jean-Pierre de Smet – who managed this estate since its 1987 purchase by the French insurance group AXA – has just turned over the reins to his young technical director Olivier Leriche. Practices here have been certified as biodynamic now for two years. The 2005s were all fermented with whole clusters. Numerous agents and U.S. importers including: Chambers & Chambers, San Francisco, CA; tel. (415) 642 5500, Classic Wine Imports, Norwood, MA, tel. (781) 352 1100, Michael Skurnik Wines, Syosset, NY; tel. (516) 677-9300