Wine Advisor
Vincent Girardin, Puligny Montrachet 1er Cru Les Combettes 2021
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Description
Tasting notes
Reviewed by: William Kelley
As I wrote shortly after it was bottled, the 2021 Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru Les Combettes is one of the sites that Germain's team was able to thoroughly protect from the spring frosts (I remember driving past the parcel 10 days later, with it and Domaine Leflaive's vines standing out as the solitary island of green amidst a sea of desiccated buds), and the result is a wine that transcends the vintage. Offering up notes of waxy citrus rind, buttery pastry, iodine and white flowers, it's medium- to full-bodied, satiny and layered, with racy acids, chalky structuring extract and a long, saline finish.
Reviewed by: Neal Martin
The 2021 Puligny-Montrachet Les Combettes 1er Cru has a toasted sesame and popcorn-tinged bouquet, touches of wax resin, cohering nicely in the glass and becoming more delineated. The palate is well balanced with a fresh entry, Satsuma and Nashi pear, a touch of spice with a cohesive and quite persistent finish. This is very promising.
About the Producer
The story begins in Santenay where Vincent’s father, Jean Girardin, divided up his estate between his four children when Vincent attained the age of 18 in 1982, which each sibling receiving three hectares. Vincent began to bottle his own wines, purchased some additional vineyards and rented others. A negociant business was started In 1994, and as this thrived Vincent was albe to increase his vineyard holdings. Presently the domaine has almost 22 hectares, almost all in white wine appellations, with plans to increase this. Early picking, less new oak and a search for vibrancy in whites and reds are the hallmarks of this Domain, which has been fully biodynamic from 2008, undergoing certification from 2009.
