2007 Chassagne Montrachet Les Caillerets
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Tasting notes
The Girardin 2007 Chassagne-Montrachet Le Caillerets exudes fusil, smoky and chalky notes to accompany lemon and peach that then take over brightly and lusciously on the palate. Sappy, bright, and energetic in finish, this tastes like a case of the fruit and minerals each trying to overtake the other, with the result a superb crescendo of flavor. I was left salivating uncontrollably. While there are more complex and nuanced wines in this collection, I suspect this will be one of those ultimately most impressive, and capable of satisfying for a decade if not more. Girardin owns an entire hectare here, so this is another terrific 2007 that is not exactly scarce. Vincent Girardin picked until past mid-September, with most of his top sites being brought in only from the 10th; allowed skin contact he would have avoided until recent years; and beat the lees on his young wines only until Christmas, but then bottled – with a light fining, and in many instances no filtration – only in May, 2009 to maximize passive time on the lees. The regimen of new wood here (now 20-30% depending on cru) represents a drastic diminution in just the past several years, and the 2007s strike me as far more comfortable in their skins than those of 2004-2006, benefiting also from the freshness and vivacity that characterize the vintage. He picked a week too late in 2006, opines Girardin with hindsight, but then, this was almost unavoidable in at least some instances for a vintner with such huge acreage. Girardin finds his 2007s especially marked by the typicity of each individual site, not only to a greater degree than in the two more obviously ripe preceding vintages, but also than in 2008. This is an aspect he is convinced will gradually be enhanced by a conversion to biodynamic methods that is underway. Girardin's 2007 musts were selectively chaptalized and finished wines here are largely in the vicinity of 13% alcohol. As usual, given the vast array of estate and negociant wines at this address (the latter status noted, where applicable, in my texts), I was not able to take time for tasting them all; in particular omitting the generics. Importer: Vineyard Brands, Birmingham, AL; tel. (205) 980-8802
Critic scores
Average Score
Jancis Robinson MW
Stephen Tanzer, Vinous
More reviews and scores
Pale, bright yellow. Reserved nose hints at pear and spices. Offers plenty of fat but this is also tighter and more linear than the Abbaye de Morgeot, with very good energy to the taut flavors of peach, lemon and spicy oak. No shortage of acidity here. Finishes bright and long, with a wet stone minerality. This will require some patience.
(racked a week prior to my visit) Aromatic nose of grapefruit and white flowers. At once firm and expressive, with lovely precision to the flavors of citrus peel, mint and crushed stone. A dense wine that finishes with steely, almost metallic grip.