I attended a fabulous wine tasting and dinner event at my fav hangout, Palate Food + Wine last night. David Croix, the winemaker of Camille Giroud, was the guest of the event, and he gave us the comprehensive tasting of the 2006 vintage of Camille Giroud, followed by the sit-down paring dinner.
Beaune-based Camille Giroud, established in 1865, is one of othe top negociants of Bourgogne. They source from the first-rated growers such as Armand Rousseau, Comte Lafond, Meo-Camuzet, Comte-Armand, Emanuel Rouget, and even Henri Jayer (before he transferred his vineyards to Emanuel Rouget). Giroud tends to use less new oak in the wine making and the wines are very terroir-oriented.
It was a sold-out event with seemingly 50+ Burgundy enthusiasts attendees. The tasting+dinner was $175 (plus tax and tip) per person. For everything you taste and eat, it's still a wonderful deal. At the walk-around tasting, we tasted 6 wines from Giroud's 2006 vintage.
Bourgogne Rouge
Cote de Beaune Villages
Maranges 1er Cru Le Croix Moines
Gevrey-Chambertin Les Crais
Vosne-Romanee
Corton Rognets
Everything was obviously still very young, but overall I thought 2006 was a good vintage for Giroud. The wine pairing dinner was really excellent, too. Here's the menu we had.
1er...Day boat scallops, preserved meyer lemon + a trilogy of cauliflower.
2006 Meursault La Barre
2006 Corton-Charlemagne
The scallops were excellent. Meursault was extremely ripe and tasted kind of fat. I wonder if the grapes are from Lafon's Clos de la Barre vineyard? Corton had the great body and structure.
2eme...Local halibut, cock's combs, duck tongues, crosnes et cardoons
1995 Santenay Grand Clos du Rousseau
1988 Beaune Bressandes
Wow, I loved the cock's combs! It was so delicate. Crosnes is in the tube family, and cardoons is the family of artichoke. Santenay was showing really well and elegant.
3eme...Whole roasted goat, ceci, spigarello _ sweet pea pistou
2006 Corton Clos du Roi
1976 Corton Clos du Roi
They cooked the whole goat and served by slices, so it seemed some people got the very tender loin cuts while the others got the tougher cuts. I think my dish had the both kinds and I enjoyed everything. 1976 Corton was so beautiful with the deep-flavored goat.
Assiette de fromates
2006 Chambertin
All goat cheesees. Chambertin was gorgeous and I thought it should be a keeper. (Retail $210)
Everybody including myself was very happy tonight.
