Day 1: Painfully sharp and tannic. Potting soil nose. Like drinking 100% raw cranberry juice.
Day 2: Tannins rounded out, palate is filled out, very nice
Day 3: Hitting its stride, very nice on the palate. Good trifecta balance of concentration/ acid/ tannin. Cherry, dark black fruits. Tobacco, some greenery and earth tones, along with a gravelly, violet edge. Excellent.
Day 4: Slightly better than day 3 in terms of overall balance/ complexity.
Interesting to taste this thinking about the vintage in the Loire. Have a feeling many will taste with a P&P/ medium decant and write it off. Can’t wait to see this with 5-10 years. Beep beep!
Robert - From what I read I get the impression 2012 had varied problems (hail, rain, etc) but there are some good wines made which perhaps might be a bit riper than 2011. I haven’t had the 2011 Grez in a few months but I think the '12 might be more concentrated with a bit more ripeness and overall structure. I really like both vintages. Can’t wait to try the other wines from 2012.
I have also heard that 2012 was a rough year, with very low yields. This was my first Baudry, so I’m excited to try his other wines and also other vintages.
I love Cab Franc and of course Chinon… But I must admit, Baudry is not my favorite.
I think they make a really nice Chenin Blanc and a wonderful Rose, but I really do not prefer their Chinon Reds over other producers (Charles Joguet’s line up or even domestic producers like Madeliene).
Close to 2 years later, and your notes are pretty spot on. I popped one of mine out of idle curiosity, plus it was grilled pork loin night!
Took about 30 minutes to throw off that sharp, almost metallic note, and has been firing on all cylinders since. The potting soil notes you mention is dead-on. And it carries into the body. A deep earthy, wet earth wine of rich soils, minerals and a little merde. Very broad range of fruits up to the dark spectrum, plummy. A very wet wine, showing a dark maduro cigar note, one that has been in your mouth for show for a couple of hours. Medium to almost full-bodied in weight, lovely grainy texture, meaty finish. A serious wine. Grezeaux is a serious wine.
I had one of these a few months ago and loved it after it saw some air. I had forgotten about the initial metallic note, but your note reminded me that it was there. I have to say that I found the damp weightiness appealing with this one. Serious stuff indeed.
I’ve been waiting for the '14 to hit the west coast to load up, but so far I only see it available in NY. Hopefully some inventory makes it here soon.
Popped a 2012 Grezeaux tonight. Straight up tasty. Fine balance. Still on the young side but the sharp edges are rounding nicely. Excellent presence and persistence. Perhaps more complexity will emerge with additional cellaring but it’s showing quite well now.