After the 2005 Goulots, I couldn’t resist attacking another of these. The only real thing to separate the two bottles was a cork that kicked and screamed not to be freed from the neck of the bottle – indeed the first half of the cork completely disintegrated in protest. Fortunately the last half came out with a sigh, and in one piece, so I didn’t have to filter the wine!

2007 Fourrier, Morey St.Denis Clos Solon VV
Rebuy – Yes

2005 Fourrier, Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Les Goulots
Opened at lunchtime. This is a deeply coloured wine. To start both the nose and palate betray CO₂ and also the aromas of faint reduction that initially masquerade as oak. I waited for the gas and reduction to fade, waiting until the evening – to no avail for the gas, so I shook the bottle to release it – finally the seventh shake had virtually no hiss as I removed my finger – let’s start again. Deep and dark aromas, perhaps a little tight but with a faint strawberry element, eventually a little coal and violet aromas. In the mouth this wine plums impressive depths, and keep it in your mouth and you will meet a significant reserve of ripe tannin, ultimately with the faintest edge of finishing bitterness. The acidity is understated but balancing and the fruit largely gives a high-toned impression. The flavour lingers very well indeed. Hard to call young 05s like this ‘fun’ but they have incredible muscle. I’d certainly buy again at the release price, but that’s just a pipe-dream!
Rebuy – Yes

Hmm. A bottle of this drunk during the 2012 harvest was just a beautiful bottle of wine – I had to have some. Yet here is a bottle that really didn’t light many fires to start with – the pistachios that I took some solace in, also didn’t taste all that good. Maybe my palate was having a root day…

2001 Camille-Giroud, Vosne-Romanée 1er Les Malconsorts
Deep colour. Aromatically – oh yes, I’m interested! Decaying leaves, sweetened at their edges with just the last vestige of a dark rasping textured fruit but a rather herbal note too, that said, the last drops leave a gorgeous acid-cherry impression. Wide, fleet of foot with very good acidity. The flavour starts with just a little metallic taste but there’s a peak of impressive, intense flavour in the mid-palate – the wine seems impressive and disappointing in equal measure because the whole impression is a little (only a little) astringent. Day two and either it, or me, is in more harmony; there’s just a measure of sweetness that buffers that astringency – there was never any doubt about the weight and clarity of flavour. I’m still not as bowled over as I was with bottle number 1, but I’d happily drink my day 2 impression of this wine, anytime.
Rebuy – Maybe