There is plenty of blah-blah about the pricing of 2015 reds, but looking farther afield than Vosne and Chambolle, and there is much to enjoy. So, a modest selection this weekend, but not normally modest wines – unfortunately one was a stinker – literally!

2002 Nicolas Potel, Aloxe-Corton Les Boutières
I’ve probably never bought more of a single wine – 18 bottles – which I started drinking right away, early in 2004. They have all been lovely – and it has been brilliant to follow the evolution of a wine, one bottle per year – I think that I still have 2 or 3 more. This particular bottle had been sat in my fridge in Beaune for the best part of 2 years – it seems only wasting space.
Ugh – what is that smell – like the strongest brett – totally DNPIM. I left it un-stoppered for 24 hours – it was no better when I returned. Yuk!

2012 Camille Giroud, Santenay 1er Clos Rousseau
Always a very good cuvée chez CG and at a great price for the last years. I remember that one barrel of this tasted fabulous – approaching grand cru. Of course the blended cuvée was on a lower order, but still damn good!
Dark colour – a big, slightly wild nose that implies freshness, a little minerality and plenty of dark-red fruit. In the mouth there’s structure, though the tannin is not drying – there’s also fine volume of clean, interesting and mouth-filling flavour. Really drinking very well and quite powerful wine too. It tastes great today, and will only get better – Bravo!
Rebuy – Yes