Yet another example of why we age them and why great wines don’t have to cost a lot. I think I paid all of $25 for this excellent wine. And the new releases are barely over $30.
Of course it’s Baudry, so the quality expectation is high and the value proposition exists every year. In classic years, I think Grezeaux is an archetype Chinon and can produce Baudry’s top wine.
This 2010 is deep, dark and brooding but still has that vein of blood red crisp citrus that keeps this wine lifted and fresh. Lots going on in this nose. Definite barnyard for sure. Maybe a horse with saddle leather roaming around in there, too. Some pyrazine fresh green bell pepper. Dry ground cover. Brambly dark fruits. Green apple peal. Green tobacco leaves. Palate is still youthful, some chewiness to resolve. The tannins still clamp down on the finish but not before all these classic Cab Franc flavors fan across the palate. Enjoyable now, but still needs 3-5 years ago. And yes, I said the same exact thing in my prior note from 2022. Glad I have more! (93+ pts.)
A classic wine for the young bucks of WB to take note! @LukeZuelke
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That sounds wonderful.
Made me look at my notes. I’ve had great bottles of Grezeaux, but it seems like my ratings for Clos Guillot are slightly higher. Wonder why.
Personal preference, I presume. I’m sure most put Croix Boissee on top. I think it is vintage dependent for my palate. But in some years Grezeaux reigns supreme to me.
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Already finished my pair of bottles, but definitely tracked with your experience!
- 2010 Domaine Bernard Baudry Chinon Les Grézeaux - France, Loire Valley, Touraine, Chinon (4/27/2024)
Day 1: Coravin-ed at cellar temperature. Immediately classic aromas, beef stock, tobacco, pasture, cherry, violets, tons going on, true bottle bouquet. Mid-weigh with a linear profile, crunchy red fruit, tobacco and minerality. Clean, pure, direct profile. Medium plus acidity, furry tannins on the finish, mostly resolved. This will continue to age, though whether it will improve from its current plateau is a matter of personal preference.
Day 2: Popped cork to finish bottle. Less feral, black currant, mint and menthol are more forward now. Otherwise, consistent with its gravelly, earthy origins. Such a singular wine, not a 'vin de garde', yet age-worthy and archetypical in its expression. (92 points)
- 2010 Domaine Bernard Baudry Chinon Les Grézeaux - France, Loire Valley, Touraine, Chinon (9/29/2018)
Tight on opening. Sour cherry and tobacco. With air shows a hint of darker fruit, though still primarily on the crunchy red fruit track. Linear, fresh fruited palate. Minerality and tobacco on the back end. Clean and elegant style.
Presently lacking some breadth despite the evident class and typicity, worth following and has room to improve with tertiary development. Hold for 5-8 years. (89 points)
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Great evocative notes as usual - you really do it justice! Totally agree about the value, it’s a must for anyone’s cellar; Loire fans or just curious folk alike. My only proviso would be that like Olga Raffault Les Picasses, it sometimes needs a long time in the cellar to really shine. For example, I have found the 17 and 19 to be easy to enjoy young, not so much the 15 and 16.
Will tee one up. Haven’t opened a 10er in about 4 years so I’m excited to check in after this strong note.
I’m immediately doing the rounds to see where/if I can procure some. Super note, sounds exciting!
Those qualities are often what I dream of when thinking about a tasty wine. I’ll have to tru a younger version, and store an few away in a corner.
