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 Vintage1998 Label 1 of 5 
(NOTE: Label borrowed from 1999 vintage.)
TypeRed
ProducerDomaine / Maison Vincent Girardin (web)
VarietyPinot Noir
DesignationVieilles Vignes
Vineyardn/a
CountryFrance
RegionBurgundy
SubRegionCôte de Nuits
AppellationClos de la Roche Grand Cru

Drinking Windows and Values
Drinking window: Drink between 2008 and 2012 (based on 11 user opinions)
Wine Market Journal quarterly auction price: See Vincent Girardin Clos de la Roche Vieilles Vignes on the Wine Market Journal.

Community Tasting History

Community Tasting Notes (average 91.5 pts. and median of 91 pts. in 8 notes) - hiding notes with no text

 Tasted by schan109 on 12/24/2020 & rated 95 points: Bottle breathe 1 hour before serving. Initially the nose is timid, and the palate is quite flat. The beauty turns into perfume nose with rose, violet, cherry with complex palate, fully integrated tannin. Still plenty amount of fruit, with some smoke, earthy note. Medium finishing. Best after 1.5 hours in the glass with continued evolving taste. Later on, it turns into fully matured palate with tobacco, tea and mushroom. Very impressive (195 views)
 Tasted by Xavier Auerbach on 2/22/2020 & rated 91 points: Pristine bottle purchased in 2005. When I read back all my previous tasting notes, spanning the period 2008-2015, I am actually quite amazed how well this is showing today. at 22 years of age. The nose is quintessentially Morey (or maybe Gevrey), with a lovely touch of menthol freshness, forest floor and crushed red berries; the palate remains tannic and structured, minerally and energetic, masculine and powerful but not charming; black tea finish. The nose is its best feature. (754 views)
 Tasted by Xavier Auerbach on 11/28/2015 & rated 91 points: It was Harry Waugh (1904-2001), the grand old man of the English wine trade, and the finest taster of Michael Broadbent's experience, who answered the question when he had last confused claret with burgundy by saying: "not since lunch". This is one of those wines that lends credibility to this piece of wine folklore. Tannic and even cedary, this sturdy and structured wine might easily be mistaken for a 1998 Saint-Julien. Spicy oak, cool and mineral, slender, earthy, fresh and relatively dry, light finish but with good length. Has drive and energy, masculine, puts structure before terroir and finesse. (929 views)
 Tasted by Rani on 9/21/2015 & rated 93 points: Tasted blind. A terrifically balanced wine, with racing acidity and great core of red fruit. Some forrest floor, vibrant and layered. Really lovely and ready to drink. (748 views)
 Tasted by Xavier Auerbach on 2/10/2013 & rated 92 points: Impressively fresh, primary even, at 15 years of age; red and black fruit, lovage, energetic, with engaging minerality, excellent balance, good intensity, beautifully resolved tannins, spicy new oak; very good length. Firm and sturdy rather than refined, complex and fragrant but very satisfying and showing very well today. Now - 2018. (1295 views)
 Tasted by Xavier Auerbach on 9/20/2011 & rated 89 points: Modern style, fruit driven, new oak, has taken its time to shed its tannins, lively acidity, a bit monolithic, one-dimensional, the touch of nutty evolution is a bit out of context. Pleasant, a good glass of wine. (1327 views)
 Tasted by Xavier Auerbach on 3/27/2010 & rated 90 points: Complex and profound nose of dried fruit, blackberries, vanilla/toast, forest floor and gamey aromas; on the palate relatively dry with chunky tannins; drying finish. Seems completely mature but there is an edge of 1998 hardness. Let's see where this goes. Drink 2013/18? (1311 views)
 Tasted by Xavier Auerbach on 5/31/2008 & rated 91 points: Very expressive, initially Volnay-like, after an hour in the decanter more iron; creamy and ripe, chunky 1998 structure, sturdy tannins are beginning to soften; exceptional length, cream and vanilla, minerals and evolved PN. Not easy to see how this will evolve further. (926 views)

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Domaine / Maison Vincent Girardin

Producer Website

U.S. Importer (Addt'l Info)

Source: VinConnect (VinConnect.com)

The Girardin family has been making wine as far back as the 17th century, making Vincent Girardin an 11th generation winemaker. In 1982, Vincent incorporated his namesake négociant house with only 2 hectares of vines. Since then, Vincent has steadily grown his production, with both purchases of land and grapes. Today, the Girardin estate represents about 20 hectares of vines spread throughout 42 parcels in 8 different villages in the Cote de Beaune. Bought fruit completes the range.

Vincent adheres to the principles of integrated and reasoned viticulture, emphasizing the benefits of bio-dynamism in the vineyards (no herbicide or insecticides are used, the ground is deeply plowed, compost comes from a biodynamic farm in the district) while still allowing himself the flexibility to apply a soft treatment to the vineyards should bad meteorological conditions seriously threaten the sanitary condition of the grapes.

Vincent is committed to making wines that are a direct expression of the individual grapes and terroirs. Harvest is done by hand and grapes, both of the estate and bought, are sorted twice before entering the winery (once when picking and again on the sorting table). During fermentations, strict and daily monitorings are the norm. Each cuvée represents a different hillside and a different exposure; thus, the winemaker’s decisions are paramount. Vincent’s roots are deep in the most prestigious terroirs of Burgundy. He knows every vine, every parcel of land. He ensures that the highest quality is maintained by following each wine’s development every step of the way, along with his winemaker, Eric Germain, respecting, at all times, the most important element of Burgundy – the individuality of its terroirs.

The white wines of the estate are lightly pressed and after a gentle racking of the must, put in French oak casks (with 10 to 35% of new oak depending upon the appellation). Fermentations begin with only indigenous yeasts and ageing is long, the wine resting on fine lees for 14 to 20 months, depending on the cuvée. The lunar calendar is consulted to find an auspicious bottling date. These wines find their essence in their finesse, extreme aromatic purity, and fine balance between acidity and richness.

The red wines of the estate are produced from partially de-stemmed grapes that ferment in stainless steel thermo-regulated tanks with their natural yeasts. The must is very gently pumped over and crushed in order to avoid extracting harsh tannins, always keeping in mind the search for purity and terroir expression. The must is then gently pressed and clean juice is put into French oak casks (with 30 to 60% of new oak depending upon the appellation) to settle. The wines are aged for 16 to 18 months on fine lees and also bottled according to the lunar calendar without fining or filtering. The resulting wines are often fruit-forward and elegant, with supple tannins.

Pinot Noir

Varietal character (Appellation America) | Varietal article (Wikipedia)
Pinot Noir is the Noble red grape of Burgundy, capable of ripening in a cooler climate, which Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot will not reliably do. It is unpredictable and difficult both to grow and to vinify, but results in some of the finest reds in the world. It is believed to have been selected from wild vines two thousand years ago. It is also used in the production of champagne. In fact, more Pinot Noir goes into Champagne than is used in all of the Cote d'Or! It is also grown in Alsace, Jura, Germany, the U.S., Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Romania, Switzerland, Austria, Croatia, Serbia, Italy, and so forth, with varying degrees of success.


Pinot Noir is one of the world's most prestigious grapes. It is very difficult to grow and thrives well in France, especially in Champagne and Burgundy. Pinot Noir thrives less in hot areas, is picky on soil, and deserves some oak storage.

Pinot Noir, or Blauburgunder / Spätburgunder in German, is a blue grapevine - and, as the German name suggests, the grape comes originally from Burgundy in France.

The grape, which thrives in calcareous soils, is used primarily for the production of red wine, and it is widely regarded as producing some of the best wines in the world. The wine style is often medium-bodied with high fruit acidity and soft tannins. It can be quite peculiar in fragrance and taste, and not least in structure - which may be why it is referred to as "The Grapes Ballerina".
Pinot Noir is also an important ingredient in sparkling wines, not least in champagne since it is fruity, has good acidity and contains relatively little tannins.
The grape is considered quite demanding to grow. The class itself consists of tightly packed grapes, which makes it more sensitive to rot and other diseases.

Pinot Noir changes quite easily and is genetically unstable. It buds and matures early which results in it often being well ripened. Climate is important for this type of grape. It likes best in cool climates - in warm climates the wines can be relaxed and slightly pickled.
In cooler climates, the wine can get a hint of cabbage and wet leaves, while in slightly warmer regions we often find notes of red berries (cherries, strawberries, raspberries, currants), roses and slightly green notes when the wine is young. With age, more complex aromas of forest floor, fungi and meat emerge.

In Germany, Switzerland, Austria and Hungary, it often produces light wines with less character. However, it has produced very good results in California, Oregon and New Zealand.

With its soft tannins and delicate aroma, it is excellent for white fish, chicken and light meat. For the stored wines you can serve small game. Classic duck breast is a matter of course, a Boeuf Burgundy and Pinot Noir are pure happiness.

Pinot Noir loses quality by over-harvesting.
Pinot Noir is prone to diseases, especially rot and mildew. Viruses cause major problems especially in Burgundy.
Pinot Noir are large round grapes with thin skins. Relatively high in alcohol content. Medium rich tannins and good with acid.
As a young person, Pinot Noir has a distinctly fruity character such as raspberries, cherries and strawberries.
A mature Pinot Noir, the taste is different. Cherry goes into plum and prune flavors. It smells of rotten leaves, coffee, moist forest floor and animal wine. This must be experienced.
In warm climates you find boiled plum, some rustic, little acid.
If the grapes are over-grown, the wine will be thin, with little color and flavor.

Vieilles Vignes

Old Vine/Vieilles Vignes (Wikipedia)

France

Vins de France (Office National Interprofessionnel des Vins ) | Pages Vins, Directory of French Winegrowers | French Wine (Wikipedia)

Wine Scholar Guild vintage ratings

2018 vintage: "marked by a wet spring, a superb summer and a good harvest"
2019 vintage reports
2021: "From a general standpoint, whether for white, rosé or red wines, 2021 is a year marked by quality in the Rhône Valley Vineyards. Structured, elegant, fresh and fruity will be the main keywords for this new vintage."
2022 harvest: idealwine.info | wine-searcher.com

Burgundy

Les vins de Bourgogne (Bureau interprofessionnel des vins de Bourgogne) (and in English)

Burgundy - The province of eastern France, famous for its red wines produced from Pinot Noir and its whites produced from Chardonnay. (Small of amounts of Gamay and Aligoté are still grown, although these have to be labeled differently.) The most famous part of the region is known as the Cote d'Or (the Golden Slope). It is divided into the Cote de Beaune, south of the town of Beaune (famous principally for its whites), and the Cote de Nuits, North of Beaune (home of the most famous reds). In addition, the Cote Chalonnaise and the Maconnais are important wine growing regions, although historically a clear level (or more) below the Cote d'Or. Also included by some are the regions of Chablis and Auxerrois, farther north.

Burgundy Report | Les Grands Jours de Bourgogne - na stejné téma od Heleny Baker

# 2013 Vintage Notes:
* "2013 is a vintage that 20 years ago would have been a disaster." - Will Lyons
* "low yields and highly variable reds, much better whites." - Bill Nanson
* "Virtually all wines were chaptalised, with a bit of sugar added before fermentation to increase the final alcohol level." - Jancis Robinson

# 2014 Vintage Notes:
"We have not had such splendid harvest weather for many years. This will ensure high quality (fragrant, classy and succulent are words already being used) across the board, up and down the hierarchy and well as consistently from south to north geographically apart from those vineyards ravaged by the hail at the end of June." - Clive Coates

# 2015 Vintage Notes:
"Low yields and warm weather allowed for ample ripeness, small berries and an early harvest. Quality is looking extremely fine, with some people whispering comparisons with the outstanding 2005 vintage. Acid levels in individual wines may be crucial." - Jancis Robinson

# 2017 Vintage Notes:
"Chablis suffered greatly from frost in 2017, resulting in very reduced volumes. As ever, the irony seems to be that what remains is very good quality, as it is in the Côte d’Or. Cooler nights across the region have resulted in higher-than-usual acidity, with good conditions throughout the harvest season allowing for ripe, healthy fruit." - Jancis Robinson

# 2018 Vintage Notes:
"The most successful region for red Burgundy in 2018 was the Côte de Beaune. The weather was ideal in this area, with just enough sunlight and rain to produce perfectly balanced wines naturally." - Vinfolio

Côte de Nuits

on weinlagen.info

Clos de la Roche Grand Cru

Located in the heart of Morey-St.-Denis, the Clos de la Roche vineyard is known to produce wines of great length and concentration while having a great minerality and pure fruit aromas.
on weinlagen-info.de

 
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