2004 Vincent Girardin Tasting

This was a really challenging tasting for me. I've gotten comfortable with Napa Cabs, CA Zins, German Riesling, and Red Bordeaux, and even CA Pinot. This was really new, and I even had trouble deciding which wines I liked most, and whether or not I *liked* a given wine. That should be easy, shouldn't it?

I definately liked these these wines better than the last batch of "White Burgundy" I tried a week or so ago, but I don't know that they excited me enough to be worth the (high) cost. I might buy a single bottle of my favorite and see how much I enjoy iit over an evening with food. I'll probably wait and see how my half case of white burgs works out of me. I'd also probably want to see how some age would effect these.

• 2004 Domaine / Maison Vincent Girardin Meursault Les Tillets

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Meursault

  Really nice nose. Fruity, citrus. Acidic, rough finish. When I came back to this the nose was all oak, and the fruit was gone from the pallate. The finish is now rough. Nope. TOTAL oak nose nby the end. Taste has gone downhill, but not as much as the nose. Still kinda like it if I don't pay attention to the nose. How can that be? Kinda. Maybe not. (++ then -)

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• 2004 Domaine / Maison Vincent Girardin Puligny-Montrachet Les Enseignères

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Puligny-Montrachet

  Really rough finish. Muted nose but thicker, heavier, more oak flavors. This got better. Still a lot of oak, but a nice, clean finish now. Buutery, oaky, brightly acidic, if not much bright fruit. (-- then o)

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• 2004 Domaine / Maison Vincent Girardin Chassagne-Montrachet 1er Cru Abbaye de Morgeot

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Chassagne-Montrachet 1er Cru

  Expressive oaky, resinny nose. Clean, tannic finish. Better still. Still not much fruit. More interesting at the end. Spicy. (- then +)

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• 2004 Domaine / Maison Vincent Girardin Chassagne-Montrachet 1er Cru Les Caillerets

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Chassagne-Montrachet 1er Cru

  MONSTER oak nose. Very crisp finish, but not unpleasant. Not fruity. Oak, oak, oak. Is it the age with these? Is it me? Better though. Smoother with air. Some spice but not as much as some others. (o then +)

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• 2004 Domaine / Maison Vincent Girardin Meursault 1er Cru Les Charmes-Dessus

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Meursault 1er Cru

  Fruity nose, nice flavor throuhout. Sharp finish, then smoothes out some. My favorite so far on the second pass. Still has fruit and acid, but very smooth now. Full. (o then +++)

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• 2004 Domaine / Maison Vincent Girardin Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru Les Referts

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru

  Muted nose, but nice flavor. Some complexity. Interesting, changing finish, really pleasant, but with an acidic kick. short-medium. Even smoother later. Good. Oaky nose, but the flavor is nice. A touch hot when swallowed. (+ then ++)

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• 2004 Domaine / Maison Vincent Girardin Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru Les Combettes

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru

  Full wine: fruit and "other". Good finish, complex and clean. Acid is there, but not showing seperately. Brighter than some... Nice fruit. More oak nose later. Bright, but still good. Muted nose, not all oak. Oakier finish later? (++ then +)

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• 2004 Domaine / Maison Vincent Girardin Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru Le Cailleret

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru

  Very full, more oak than others. Finish is the best part of this, and maybe the nicest finish. If only there were more fruit throughout the rest of this. Later a sharp, spicy oak nose -- what I think of as ressiny. Smoothed out with time. Very clean. (o/+ ... + )

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I think... these all had a minerality that's missing from the CA Chards I've tried. I don't know how to describe the minerality in wines, but I know I like what it does to the wine. I think it’s why I like the German Rieslings so much and don't like the CA Rieslings I've tried at all -- I think the minerality is what the CA Rieslings are missing.

Geography: I learned that Chassagne-Montrachet is immediately west of Puligny-Montrachet, and Mersault is immediatly east of Puligny-Montrachet. Both are in the Cote de Beaune.

Lots of acidity in all these wines. A good thing compared to the CA wines.

For some reason, I was really sensitive to the oak in these wines. Was it me that day? Others say they didn't notice the oak, but I *really* did, especially at the end. Why is that?

All of these wines have a complexity I don't find in CA Chard, except maybe the first. Do I like them? Not enough to be worth the money, I don't think. Not the way I enjoy a Riesling or a CA Cab. I'll continue to try other producers to see if there are examples I prefer. If not for the Paul Pernot I really liked and the Brewer-Clifton I enjoyed, I'd probably think that white Burgundy wasn't for me.