Visit Maison Camille Giroud – tasting of the 2013 vintage

Maison Camille Giroud has a special place in my Burgundy heart, as the wonderful Cortons from this house convinced me that the Corton hill can in fact produce red wines that deserves the Grand Cru classification and at the same time be a delightful experience in the glass. Yes I have for many years been very skeptical about red Cortons … but no more!

A bit of history … Maison Camille Giroud was founded in 1865 and moved to the current location near the train station in Beaune in the late 1890s. The Giroud family continued to own the negocaint business until 2002, where a group of US investors headed by Joe Wender and Ann Colgin acquired Camille Giroud.

The year 2002 marked a new beginning for Camille Giroud as they also hired a new winemaker – a young man – David Croix – with fine recommendations from Benjamin Leroux at that time of Domaine du Clos des Epeneaux.

David Croix is still responsible for the winemaking at Camille Giroud, and he is doing a magnificent job making delightful and very enjoyable wines.

March … poor timing for Burgundy visits

Some of the big tasting events in Burgundy – Grands Jours de Bourgogne and Trilogie are held in the middle of March … despite the fact that many producers are bottling the reds during this period.

As a consequence many wines are often not showing their best – being either just bottled or prepared for bottling.

I do nevertheless always plan visits around the big tasting events, as I want to make the most of my 1200 km long trip from Denmark.

At Camille Giroud most of the wines were prepared for bottling, so I did not taste the full selection of 2013s … and some of the wines tasted were influenced by the preparation for bottling.

Regardless of this – all the wines were delightful efforts in a somewhat difficult vintage, and the delicate and generous style of Camille Giroud and David Croix really suits this sometimes slightly austere vintage.

To the notes!

Tasting notes from visit at Camille Giroud on March 18th 2015

Most wines at Maison Camille Giroud were tasted from tank, and only a few from cask in the cellar.

Camille Giroud, Bourgogne Rouge 2013

The Bourgogne Rouge 2013 is a lovely little wine. In the nose fresh cool fruit – notes of cranberries and raspberries – spiced with a dusty mineralogy. On the palate good weight for this level, cool and quite focused – drinking well.

(Drink from 2016) – Above Average – (83 – 84p) – Tasted 18/03/2015

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Camille Giroud, Ladoix Les Chaillots 2013

The Ladoix Les Chaillots offer more character and power. In the nose slightly darker representation of red and dark fruits followed up by a quite powerful minerality. On the palate good concentration and weight, lovely balance and mid-palate fruit … slightly austere or rustic somehow. Nevertheless a good entry level Burgundy with some true character.  

(Drink from 2018) – Good – (84 – 85p) – Tasted 18/03/2015 from tank.

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Camille Giroud, Marsannay Longeroies 2013

The Marsannay Longeroies offer a more charming view to the vintage. In the nose a selection of red and dark forest fruits – more forward than the Ladoix. On the palate lovely mid palate fruit with a nice core of sweetness – good power and length. A lovely glass of pinot.

(Drink from 2018) – Good – (84 – 85p) – Tasted 18/03/2015 – from tank.

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Camille Giroud, Gevrey-Chambertin 2013

The Gevrey-Chamberyin is a step up in concentration and quality … the appellation did well in 2013. In the nose lovely red fruit hint of sous-bois combined with a distinct earthy mineralogy. On the palate fine ripe red fruit, juicy and sexy … good concentration .. very harmonious and drinkable. A lovely village.

(Drink from 2022) – Very Good – (88 – 89p) – Tasted 18/03/2015 from tank.

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Camille Giroud, Santenay Clos Rousseau 2013

The Santenay Clos Rousseau is a very expressive wine .. made from 70 y.o. vines. In the nose quite floral and outgoing offering a nice selection of red berries. The palate offer juicy fruit … expressive and energetic, with a quite powerful minerality underneath. I quite like this wine … for it’s character and energy.

(Drink from 2022) – Good+ – (87 – 88p) – Tasted 18/03/2015 from tank

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Camille Giroud, Volnay le Lurets 2013

The Volnay Les Lurets is a lovely effort. In the nose fine ripe fruit – notes of juicy red berries – spiced with some earthy notes and plum. On the palate lovely and very pure fruit – very good ripeness – harmonious and very drinkable. A lovely Volnay in the making.

(Drink from 2023) – Very Good – (88 – 89p) – Tasted 18/03/2015 from tank.

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Camille Giroud, Beaune 1er cru 2013

The Beaune 1er cru is a delightful glass. In the nose layers of juicy red fruit brought forward by a deep earthy minerality. On the palate delightfully forward with a gorgeous core of sweet red fruit – juicy with a lovely energy. A beautiful glass of Beaune … happy wine!

(Drink from 2023) – Very Good+ – (89 – 91p) – Tasted 18/03/2015 from tank.

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Camille Giroud, Vosne-Romanee Les Chalandins 2013

The Vosne Les Chaladins village is very good effort for this level. In the bouquet fine red and dark berry fruit – quite floral – with a lovely Vosne spicyness. On the palate quite intense for this level, with a good midpalate weight and a long persistent finish. It’s expressive (35% whole cluster) … and is offering a lovely nerve and energy … a very good Vosne village.

(Drink from 2025) – Very Good – (89 – 90p) – Tasted 18/03/2015 from cask.

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Camille Giroud, Nuits-Saint-Georges Les Boudots 2013

The NSG Boudots needs time to unfold … slightly reduced with the oak a bit forward. In the nose red and dark berry fruit – a hint of toasted oak and a slightly earthy minerality. On the palate  quite concentrated with a quite weighty but very harmonious expression of fruit. It’s juicy and vibrant with a lovely verve and energy – impressively long. A lovely NSG in the making.

(Drink from 2025) – Fine+ – (91 – 93p) – Tasted 18/03/2015 from tank.

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Camille Giroud, Gevrey-Chambertin Laveaux Saint-Jacques  2013

The Laveaux Saint-Jacques really underlines the quality of this appellation in the 2013 vintage. In the nose – slightly reduced – but still loads of red berry fruit and mineralogy. On the palate lovely juicy fruit – layered with a lovely filigree and delicate expression. It’s a quite refined Gevrey .. especially considering the vintage .. delighted!

(Drink from 2027) – Fine+ – (91 – 92p) – Tasted 18/03/2015 from tank.

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Camille Giroud, Charmes Chambertin 2013

The Charmes-Chambertin is a stap up from the otherwise delightful Laveaux. The bouquet is crammed with redder fruit – boysenberries, red currant, raspberries – spiced by hints of sous-bois and earthy mineral notes. On the palate very vibrant and energetic fruit … forward, pure and delightfully fresh. A lovely Charmes in the making.

(Drink from 2027) – Fine+ – (92 – 93p) – Tasted 18/03/2015 from cask.

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Camille Giroud, Le Chambertin 2013

The Chambertin is a further step up in quality adding some nerve and airiness to the equation. In the nose layers of airy red and dark berry fruit. On the palate excellent weight and power – effortless and airy with a lovely juicy midpalate fruit. It’s a bit more backward than the Charmes, but offer another level of refinement and racy effortlessness – in other words .. a very fine and refined Chambertin in the making. 

(Drink from 2030) – Vey Fine+ – (93 – 95p) – Tasted 18/03/2015 from cask.