88+ 2005 Vincent Girardin Santenay Les Gravieres 6/17/08 ($34)
13.5% alc
Color: Deep black cherry. (3.0) Bouquet: Black cherry, clay, black truffles and wet leaves with excellent acidity. (3.0) Body: Solid middleweight with very good fruit, excellent acidity and some tannin. Coats the mouth somewhat. (3.0) Flavor: Parallels bouquet, but more restrained. (2.5) Finish: Parallels flavor, but loses focus here with intrusive, chalky acidity that slightly overtakes the more appealing fruit and complexity. (2.5)
Overall: A very good Santenay that has the potential to be excellent with a little time (2-4 years), but I'd like to see a more solid core of flavor in the mouth and more focus in the finish. Keep your fingers crossed. This is a wine that I've liked very much in the past (the '99 was particularly fine). I was expecting a bit more here, but I do like its complexity. (14.0)