Bi-Baudry

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Ian Fitzsimmons

Ian Fitzsimmons
Recent forays into Chinon-shire. My reference to Rougeard should be contextualized by noting that I've only tasted one once in my life.

2010 Domaine Bernard Baudry Chinon Le Clos Guillot

The first evening, I thought this was the first Chinon I've tasted that I could really love. It offered a kind of vaporizing acidity on entry and at the back end, sandwiching in-between a wafer-like pulse of sweet, red fruit, that cosseted the palate and contrasted delightfully. Nary a hint of green or woodiness, which is also new for me in these wines. You could catch a glimpse of what Rougeard does with the variety from this bottle.

The wine seemed to tire more quickly after the first day than I expected, so not sure what it's remaining longevity will be like. Will need to open another soon, or a 2009, to better gauge.

2009 Domaine Bernard Baudry Chinon Les Grézeaux

I was somewhat blown away by this: precise but sizzley acidity, striking purity on entry, robust CF flavors with nascent complexity. No sign of steaminess or greenness; more refined and focused than the 2010 Guillot we opened a month ago. This bottle is causing me to reassess the Baudry wines altogether.

I'm ready to backfill Grézeaux - post-2010, the last vintage I purchased. Favorites?

Do Amirault wines develop in a similar manner?
 
originally posted by Ian Fitzsimmons:
Bi-BaudryRecent forays into Chinon-shire. My reference to Rougeard should be contextualized by noting that I've only tasted one once in my life.

2010 Domaine Bernard Baudry Chinon Le Clos Guillot

The first evening, I thought this was the first Chinon I've tasted that I could really love. It offered a kind of vaporizing acidity on entry and at the back end, sandwiching in-between a wafer-like pulse of sweet, red fruit, that cosseted the palate and contrasted delightfully. Nary a hint of green or woodiness, which is also new for me in these wines. You could catch a glimpse of what Rougeard does with the variety from this bottle.

The wine seemed to tire more quickly after the first day than I expected, so not sure what it's remaining longevity will be like. Will need to open another soon, or a 2009, to better gauge.

2009 Domaine Bernard Baudry Chinon Les Grézeaux

I was somewhat blown away by this: precise but sizzley acidity, striking purity on entry, robust CF flavors with nascent complexity. No sign of steaminess or greenness; more refined and focused than the 2010 Guillot we opened a month ago. This bottle is causing me to reassess the Baudry wines altogether.

I'm ready to backfill Grézeaux - post-2010, the last vintage I purchased. Favorites?

Do Amirault wines develop in a similar manner?
Click to expand...

All vintages of both of these wines are very good and interesting. I've found 2014 to be stellar for both, if I had to pick a favorite.

I don't think that Amirault is in the same class as Baudry and I doubt they age the same way (Amirault is more blocky).
 
We import both. They're quite different, both generations. The 1997 Amirault Les Quartiers has always been delicious.
 
I feel like the transfer of Amirault from father Yannick to son Benoit has seen a welcomed stylistic shift. The wines are more "pure" and less "blocky" to use the OP's terminology. Yixin would you agree?

re: aging Amirault- I have the wines back to 2005 and all are still "young." So are you saying they age longer?
 
At Amirault, the tannins used to be harder in youth, but the wines aged beautifully in a distinctive fashion. Maybe not Mine, Source or Coudraye, but everything else seems to take at least a decade to start showing well.
 
I was very taken with the 2010 Malgagnes I bought from you at the tasting, Warren; but I don't propose to disturb their slumber for some time yet.

Any thoughts on Hureau (Saumur-Champigny, I know). I don't see his wines around much, but the ones I've tasted have been very good. Looking forward to working through the remaining 4 bottles of my 2005 Lisagathe stash.
 
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