Tasted in Saint-Vérand with Thibault Girin (centre), 18 May 2016.
Domaine Girin
Aucherand
69620 Saint-Vérand
Tel: +33 6 83 53 46 64
www.domainegirin.fr
Saint-Vérand is a very long way away from Saint-Véran! Here in the south of Beaujolais you are also a long way away from the crus that made Beaujolais famous – but there are still some tasty wines!
I tasted with Thibault Girin, who, since 2008, is the 5th generation of Girins to work at the domaine started by Pierre Girin in 1890. Thibault now works together with his father, Henri, and his uncle Bernard Girin.
The domaine, sitting in the land of pierres dorées, has 30 hectares of vines – 100% Beaujolais-rated, not Beaujolais Villages.
They commercialise 25% of their production – approaching 30,000 bottles – they also sell some Nouveau in Japan. The rest of their production is bought by the négoce. Judging by the photo, above, it looks like most of their marketing revolves around getting medals in various wine competitions 🙂
The wines…
A good selection of ‘basic’ Beaujolais from this address – picked out from my blind tasting.
2014 Beaujolais Blanc Tentation
There seems to be some aromatic bulk, but its a tight but fine aroma that escapes the glass. There is density and intensity here, a little mouth perfume and plenty of structure – quite a mineral impression and great length here.
2014 Beaujolais cuvée Seduction
5-6 day maceration/vinification with all the clusters.
Deep, some pyrazine, plenty of energy. Round, very fruity, accessible, a very faint tannin, but really it’s a wine that’s round and comforts the palate. Well concentrated, and with layers of enjoyable fruit. Less than €6 too.
2014 Beaujolais Coteaux du Razet Vieilles-Vignes
A selection of old vines. All tank, a little longer elevage
Also a pyrazine note but here back with a much darker fruit. Supple, more intense, more concentrated, layered flavour. Yes still some pyrazine, but really its just part of the ensemble. Very tasty and impressive wine.
2014 Beaujolais l’Ancestrale
A little destemming depending on vintage followed by barrel elevage in 4-5 year-old barrels. Over 60-year-old vines – a parcel selection.
A nice deep nose of dark fruit, no overt pyrazine here. Big mouth-filling wine – lots of intensity, dimension of flavour and a subtly spicy complexity. There’s some vanilla too but just below the line of ‘too much.’ Very fine finishing. Wait two years for the vanilla to reduce, but this is excellent!
2013 Beaujolais l’Ancestrale
Fresh above with some depth below – aromatically a little tighter than the 14. Fresh, nice texture – some soft tannin – again a growing background of oak but fine fresh flavour in between – it reminds me of adding cream to a compote of dark fruit. Seriously good finish, despite a little dryness of tannin in the finish.