Fabulously young colour. The nose unfortunately starts like fabric clear – I think it might be the glass rather than the wine as the next pour is altogether better, faintly spicy oak and sweet fruit that takes on exra dimensions with time. The acidity has (perhaps) a little too much bite but it’s quite refreshing. Long lived in the glass as well as the bottle – really needs food, but compliments it very well.
Giroud Camille
1971 Giroud Camille Charmes-Chambertin
There’s certainly a similar style to this wine as the Giroud Clos de Vougeot. More closed on the nose but with a significantly longer finish. The fruit – and there’s still plenty – has a bitter-sweet edge and slightly dry tannin is still to found in the background. Overall it’s a shade less friendly than the Clos de Vougeot but again works wonderfully well with food.
1971 Giroud Camille Montrachet
2003 Giroud Camille Bourgogne Pinot Noir
Bottled just before the 2004 harvest. Medium, medium-plus colour. A melange of sweet red fruit greets the first sniff. The palate is surprisingly plush for a regional wine, the sweet red fruit also on the palate. The acidity is almost good enough and the tannin is completely covered by the ripe fruit. Just one of many ‘super-regionals’ that will come from 2003. I bought the last available case, just, and at the expense of their Dutch importer – sorry about that , -)
1996 Giroud Camille Pommard Clos des Epeneaux
See above for an explanation of this wine’s provenance. Direct from the cellar, the colour shows little sign of age. The nose is slightly fuller than the 2000 but stylistically similar. The palate has a little extra dimension, but there is an amazing family resemblance to the 2000 – amazing considering the different vintages and elevages. I’d say they need a similar time to maturity too. Would be a great buy.
2001 Giroud Camille Romanée Saint-Vivant
Medium, medium-plus colour. Again like the Malconsorts a very cold bottle that also takes some time to come round. The nose whilst reticent starts with a little oak that slowly fades to reveal a classic, slightly floral RSV of many dimensions. Warm it in the mouth and you start to see a little action, tightly wound concentration and beautifully covered structure. This was a wine that continued to improve over a long period of time. Another wine to wait for, but it will surely be excellent.
2001 Giroud Camille Vosne-Romanée Les Malconsorts
This bottle was very cold and took some time to come round. Medium-plus colour. The nose is understated, a little spice, but takes a while for creamy red fruit to come through. The concentrated palate has fine, silky tannins and a spicy complexion to the fruit. This is a super Vosne, but is it a good Malconsorts? Revisiting an hour or so later, the nose is a little more forward with an additional black-fruit dimension. The palate remains concentrated and a little one dimensional. Certainly has the material and absolutely no hard edges, but will take some time to flower. Given the way the RSV (below) developed over longer time-frame I’d certainly expect good things.