2006 Bienvenues Batard Montrachet
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Tasting notes
The Girardin 2006 Bienvenue-Batard-Montrachet (of which there are just shy of a dozen barriques) features honey, butterscotch, glazed pineapple, and lemon candy. Smelling like a confectionary shop, it offers a creamy, rich, opulent palate, yet manages not to be over-blown, and finishes with length, refinement, and a surprisingly low-key combination of sedate creaminess and pure, juicy citrus. While in no way dramatic, this promises to be a lovely example of its vintage and site, and one probably best enjoyed over the next half dozen years. I tasted a wide selection including all of the top crus of Vincent Girardin’s truly vast output (from nearly fifty acres of vines plus a wide range of contracts as negociant), the wines having been pre-assembled from barrel for my tasting (hence the wide point spreads). Girardin is at pains to press very gently and he did only limited lees-stirring in 2006. He favors 20, 30, and 40% new wood for his village, premier cru, and grand cru wines, respectively. Importer: Vineyard Brands, Birmingham, AL; tel. (205) 980-8802.
Critic scores
Average Score
Stephen Tanzer, Vinous
Stephen Tanzer, Vinous
More reviews and scores
Bright medium yellow. Ripe peach and honey on the nose, with exotic apricot and marzipan nuances that almost suggest a bit of botrytis. Fat, full, superripe and sweet, with a dried fruit suggestion in the mouth. An opulent middle palate leads to a long finish that's slightly blurred by alcoholic warmth. I'd want to consume this over the next five years, as there would probably be more to lose than to gain by waiting even longer.
(this was picked on September 15, three days before the ban, with 13.8% potential alcohol) Superripe, exuberant aromas of dried fruits and fresh pineapple lifted by high notes of white pepper and menthol. Fat and exotic but relatively uncomplicated following the Corton Quintessence. This tactile, opulent fruit bomb avoids coming off as heavy thanks to its very fresh acidity. Still a bit closed on the back end, with fruit-dominated finishing flavors of peach, pineapple and orange zest.