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Domaine Vincent Girardin
Burgundy
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Vincent Girardin is a man in a hurry. In just a few years, he's progressed from upstart winemaker to one of Burgundy's bona fide rising stars.
With 95 percent of his wines sold outside France, he knows something about the sink-or-swim world of international competition. In this cutthroat environment, any advantage helps, and printing "Burgundy" on your label should be an obvious leg up.
In reality, says Girardin, too many poor Burgundies are sold. "You have growers who are convinced that the way they've always worked is perfect, even though their bottles are undrinkable," says Girardin, 38. "Twenty percent are good growers, but the other vignerons float on a cloud, without any idea of how bad their wines are.."
Worse, the whistle-blower fumes, the bad wines are often sold for the same prices as the good Burgundies. This situation, he says undercuts the region's reputation, not to mention the competitiveness of shippers like himself. "In the New World, they're much more realistic; in Burgundy, we're not realistic," he says.
Girardin produces clean, pure and fruity wines. "I don't want my wines to taste musty, like an old cellar," he says. "The style of many Burgundy wines made 20 to 30 years ago is out of date. We're into a new millennium and we can't take anything for granted."
He's been able to pursue his vision freely because he's the master of his own universe. "I'm alone to decide, while more than 50 percent of Burgundy's wineries are held by the parents," says Girardin. "And when daddy says no, it's no, even if the younger generation wants to change things."
He started his own business in 1982, with 5 acres inherited from his parents. Today, he farms 40 acres, which produce one-fifth of the bottles he makes. The rest is made from must or grapes he purchases from growers whose work he respects. |
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Girardin Chassagne-Montrachet Villages Vieille Vignes 2009
Characteristics: Chassagne-Montrachet with all the minerality you'd hope to find; a wine of place, sap, evergreen herbs, polish and tension –yes tension and the nerve of positive anticipation. An experience beyond the other organoleptic wonders before us at a recent Burgundy tasting, this is exceptional!
Wine review by Nicholas D. Livingston, September 2011
Origin: France - Burgundy
Average Rating: 5 out of 5
Type: White
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Price: |
$53.00/bottle |
Bottle size: 750 mL
Bottles Per Case: 12 |
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Girardin Meursault Les Tillets 2005
Characteristics: An herbal nose of stones and earth. Already creamy with butter and nuts (walnuts and hazelnuts), golden raisins and peach. Ripe white peach fruit. Some power; fat for a village Meursault. Elegant already, with a lovely rose petal finish. 18.8/20
Origin: France - Burgundy
Average Rating: 4 out of 5
Type: White
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Price: |
$50.00/bottle |
Bottle size: 750 mL
Bottles Per Case: 12 |
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Girardin Pinot Noir Emotions de Terrior 2009
Characteristics: The nose is intense; blackberry cobbler and an artist's box of oil paints and lindseed, very attractive. Unusually full-bodied for French Pinot Noir especially at this price; dark cherry fruited. The finish is a bit quick but this may be accentuated by the richness of the wine. 13% alcohol. Notes by LAC. 09/20/2011.
Origin: France - Burgundy
Average Rating: not available
Type: Red
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Price: |
$26.00/bottle |
Bottle size: 750 mL
Bottles Per Case: 12 |
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Girardin Pommard Les Vignots 2009
Characteristics: We have more Red Burgundy without notes that any other varietal or region. That is probably because we buy more wines from this region than any other and barrel tasting notes are very early impressions so not very useful in this context. The wines vary within the region but are nearly all made from the same varietal, Pinot Noir, so I can give you a reliable idea of what to expect. The colour can range from robish to quite light but don’t be fooled. The nose is tease; its ethereal, dried roses, spring deciduous leaf, tea leaves and often a sweet earthiness. In the mouth it is often very supple and silken. The flavours are from a motley palette including cherries of most any hue, sometimes truffle, gaminess and a wonderful comforting earthiness.
Origin: France - Burgundy
Average Rating: not available
Type: Red
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Price: |
$54.00/bottle |
Bottle size: 750 mL
Bottles Per Case: 12 |
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Girardin Santenay Blanc Clos de Tavannes 2010
Characteristics: In the south of the Cote d'Or, north of Gravieres in Santenay and just south of Chassagne-Montrachet rests the Premier Cru Clos de Tavannes from which Vincent Girardin crafts this exceptional Chardonnay rich in the lifted scents of tangerines and grounding apricots. In the mouth one can practically taste the mineral from low yielding vines planted to clay marl soils that set this parcel apart in a flinty character that could well define dry extract. Nervy acids and a rounded texture prove twelve months in barrel helped tame this racy Chardonnay into a polished and creamy white of orchard fruit, freshly chopped fennel, and an almost Chablisienne sort of cut and punch together with the sapid charms of Chassagne-Montrachet. A wine that turns you on your heel and smiles "look at me and adore me" in a way one cannot but help.
Wine review by Nicholas Livingston, April 2013
Origin: France - Burgundy
Average Rating: not available
Type: White
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Price: |
$45.00/bottle |
Bottle size: 750 mL
Bottles Per Case: 12 |
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