90+ 2005 Vincent Girardin Santenay Les Gravieres - Vielles Vignes 5/15/15 ($32)
13.5% alc
Color: Deep black cherry with only a hint of browning. No clearing. (3.0) Bouquet: Elegant, expressive forest floor, red clay and musky old vines nuances complement sweet black cherry and black plum fruit. Classy. (3.5) Body: Solid middleweight with excellent acidity, smooth tannins and very good fruit. Well balanced with a tangy mouthfeel. (3.0) Flavor: More tangy and lively than the bouquet, but not as interesting. (3.0) Finish: Parallels flavor with some chalky minerality mingling with musky nuances. (3.0)
Overall: I've been underwhelmed by this wine from its release, but it's finally starting to show its stuff. Both the fruit and complexity are more expressive than when young. Also shows excellent minerality, which is the one thing it had from the start. Many of the '05 Red Burgundies have required patience and this may get even better in the next few years. (15.5)
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