2006 Camille Giroud Charmes-Chambertin Grand Cru
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Tasting notes
From the upper reaches of its appellation – near Chambertin – the Camille Giroud 2006 Charmes-Chambertin took a hit from summer hail, but seems to have bounced back. Ripe black cherry, wood smoke, roasted meat and fennel in the nose lead to a firm, slightly tightly-tannic, yet both impressively concentrated and buoyant palate. If the structure does not become too much for it, this should live up to its name. I'd like to revisit it in 2010 but imagine it will be best appreciated over the next 4-5 years. David Croix racked his 2006s into tank earlier than normal in an attempt to preserve the maximum of fruit. (For details about the recent revival of Camille Giroud and about David Croix's approach, readers are referred to reports in issues 160 and 170 respectively. A Gevrey-Chambertin En Champs was too reduced from tank when I last tasted it to adequately access, but it definitely displayed potential and reflected its old vines of a tiny-berried selection; while a Clos Vougeot from purchased fruit was stuck in protracted malo.) A Becky Wasserman Selection, Le Serbet (various importers); fax 011-333-80-24-29-70
Critic scores
Average Score
Jancis Robinson MW
Stephen Tanzer, Vinous
More reviews and scores
Very rich and luscious on the nose. Readable. Sweet fruit. Easy to like. Flattering though not the purest 2006. Neat and the balance is ok but there is perhaps a lack of soul. Chewy end at the moment. (JR)
Bright, dark red. Sexy, wild aromas of smoked meat, dried flowers and underbrush; very expressive today. Then broad, plush and silky, with impressive volume to the red and dark fruit flavors. This seamless, high-toned wine boasts serious stuffing and finishes sweet and long, with fine-grained tannins and a complete absence of hard edges. Gives the impression of a wine that will never close down in bottle.
(true Charmes) Medium red. Highly complex, soil-inflected nose offers red cherry, flowers and musky underbrush. Sweet, supple and perfumed, with captivating flavors of red fruits, spices, underbrush and dried flowers. An essentially soft wine with a high-pH mouth feel. This will no doubt go truffley with bottle aging. Finishes with sweet tannins and lingering perfume. Perhaps the most classically 2006-like in its aromatic complexity.