2005 Griottes Chambertin Grand Cru
By Domaine Fourrier
2005 Griottes Chambertin Grand Cru from Domaine Fourrier, Burgundy, France
In the pantheon of legendary vintages, the 2005 Griottes Chambertin Grand Cru from Domaine Fourrier ascends as a paragon of Burgundian excellence. Amassed from the storied soils of Gevrey-Chambertin, this wine is a testament to the meticulous crafting of Jean-Marie Fourrier and the bountiful 2005 Burgundy vintage.
A Vintage to Remember
Favorable conditions throughout the 2005 season bestowed upon this Grand Cru an impeccable balance, with a generous winter followed by a poised spring ushering in a summer where warmth and sunlight paraded hand-in-hand without excess. This equilibrium translated to grapes harvested at optimum maturity, their skins whispering tales of terroir while cradling luscious fruit within.
The experience of savoring the 2005 Griottes Chambertin is akin to an intimate recital where each note is performed with precision yet thrums with passion. The aromatic profile unfolds elegantly with a repertoire that includes earth-tinged cherry and a sous-bois complexity. Swirling the glass unveils layers of spice and floral accents, suggesting violets and rose petals collected from the valleys of one's imagination.
An Exquisite Investment
The palate bestows a silky texture which holds the promise only found in exemplary aged Burgundy - an interplay of structure and finesse, tannins integrated like threads in a baroque tapestry. The whispered nuance of oak lends support without overpowering, culminating in a finish that persists as if reluctant to conclude its own exquisite performance.
For investors seeking exclusivity and prestige within their portfolio, this impeccable wine exudes sophistication. It not only satisfies sensual pursuit but stands firm as an astute investment. The stature of this Grand Cru untangles itself more profoundly as time marches on; its complexity deepening, its narrative becoming more compelling with each passing year.
In summarizing the virtues of the 2005 Griottes Chambertin Grand Cru from Domaine Fourrier, we find a symphony of viticultural virtuosity and enological enlightenment—its grace undiminished by time, its investment appeal only appreciating like the wine itself within its sacred vessel.
Current market price
$19,920.00
12x75cl
Highest score
93
POP score
920.77
Scores and tasting notes
Each of the Clos St.-Jacques’s five owners, Fourrier observes, owns a strip from top to bottom, and the resultant diversity of microclimate and soil structure he thinks in part accounts for the complexity and balance of the wines. If there is additional virtue to be discovered in official grand cru terroir, Fourrier opines, then in the case of his 2005 Griottes Chambertin, that consists not in weight or structure but in elegance and refinement. Subtly chalky (and chalk shards, not cherries, are the real origin of the name “Griotte”) yet juicily refreshing and with striking fresh black raspberry fruit purity, this beauty boasts a silky texture and a polished finish mingling licorice, cinnamon and clear, sweet fresh raspberry fruit. Its harmony and refinement make it almost irresistible even now, but no doubt a decade or more in the cellar will be rewarded, too. The articulate and opinionated Jean-Marie Fourrier staunchly believes in the inclusion of uncrushed fruit (to among other things prolong fermentation and, he claims, diminish the efficiency of alcoholic conversion); leaving the young wines on their lees (with high CO2 retention) eighteen months before bottling; employing a mere 20% of new barrels for all wines; and applying only minimal doses of sulfur. That the property from which he sources is all owned outright, and is largely in vines of over fifty years age planted by his father or grandfather before the days of clones certainly helps explain the consistently excellent quality at this address. Importer: Rosenthal Wine Merchant, Pine Plains, NY; tel. (800) 910-1990
David Schildknecht - The Wine Advocate, 29 April 2007