DOMAINE GIRAUD
A Serious Chateauneuf Domaine new to Australia The story of Domaine Giraud began in 1974 when Pierre and Mireille Giraud took on 4 hectares of Vines as tenant farmers. Pierre, a descendant of the Armenier family, is the son of a long line of winegrowers going back more than six centuries. Mireille’s family owned the village distillery for many generations. Little by little they purchased pieces of rented land and in 1981 Pierre turned the distillery into a cellar. In that same year the first of the domaine’s wines were produced. In 1987 the Armenier family vineyards were divided among the family members. Pierre and Mireille inherited 8 hectares including some 100 year old vines. In 1998 the first estate bottled wine was sold and the Giraud children Marie and Francois began their involvement in the domaine. The family vineyards currently cover 19 hectares and are well spread over the appellation. They have century old Grenache vines in the lieux-dits of La Crau, Terres Blanches, Les Gallimardes and Pignan (next to Rayas). In most years they produce three red wines including two special cuvees. Domaine Giraud’s wines are not huge, oaked blockbusters. They rely more on terroir and old fashioned principles to create classic wines. We have a good quantity of the Cuvee Traditional wines but very small amounts of the strictly allocated Les Gallimardes and Grenaches de Pierre.
Grand Millesime Pty Ltd 6/40 Batman Street West Melbourne Vic 3003 Callers by appointment. Phone: (03) 9326 5737 Fax: (03) 9326 6744 www.grandmillesime.com.au darren@grandmillesime.com.au
CUVEE TRADITION The red Chateauneuf-du-Pape Cuvee Tradition is a blend of 60% Grenache, 35% Syrah and 5% Mouvedre. The grapes are generally destemmed and a cold maceration is followed by fermentation which lasts 3-4 weeks. The wine is aged for 18 months in enamel-lined cement vats and stainless steel. Interestingly, the Syrah component is aged in Bordeaux barriques to promote micro-oxygenation and give structure. It is then bottled without fining or filtering. We have two vintages of Cuvee Tradition available - 2007 and 2009.
2007 Chateauneuf du Pape Cuvee Tradition Usual Price $75.00 Pre-Arrival Price $65.00 2007 is a legendary vintage in Chateanueuf. Wine Spectator: Gorgeously ripe and totally inviting, with lush plum, crushed fig, macerated currant and boysenberry fruit all gliding along seamlessly over graphite, tar and charcoal notes. The superlong finish has well-embedded acidity. Shows terrific poise, despite its explosive fruit. Best from 2010 through 2025. 2,130 cases made. 94 points The Wine Advocate: The 2007 Chateauneuf du Pape is a big-time sleeper of the vintage. Deeper-colored than Les Grenaches de Pierre, it offers beautiful, ripe black raspberry, licorice, cherry, roasted herb, and meat juice-like notes, full body, a voluptuous texture, and a superb finish that lasts for 40-45 seconds. A blend of 60% Grenache, 35% Syrah, and 5% Mourvedre from 70-year-old vines, all except the Syrah is aged in steel tanks and concrete. The Syrah component spends time in small barrels. It should drink well for 15 years. 93 Points Tanzer: Bright purple. Ripe red and dark berry aromas with complicating notes of licorice and sassafras. Smooth, sappy, penetrating blackberry and cherry flavors are given spine by gentle acidity. Finishes with impressive breadth and lingering sweetness-and little in the way of tannins to get in the way of early enjoyment. 91 points
2009 Chateauneuf du Pape Cuvee Tradition Usual Price $75.00 Pre-Arrival Price $65.00 Wine Advocate: The 2009 Chateauneuf du Pape Tradition (a blend and upbringing identical to the 2008) has a dark ruby/plum color, cuts a slightly broader swath across the palate than the 2008, and is perhaps at least a degree higher in alcohol. With its fleshy, medium to fullbodied mouthfeel, it is already evolved and complex, but it should drink nicely for up to a decade. (89-91 Points) Tanzer: Bright ruby. Singed plum and blackberry aromas are enlivened by pungent minerality and complicated by cracked pepper and smoked meat nuances. Broad and plush but dry, with impressive volume to its dark berry and bitter cherry flavors. Finishes with dusty tannins and good persistence, repeating the peppery note. 88
Domaine Giraud Mixed Case Usual Price $970.00 Pre-Arrival Price $829.00 Comprises 5 bottles 2007 Cuvee Tradition, 5 bottles 2009 Cuvee Tradition, 1 bottle 2009 Les Gallimardes and 1 bottle 2008 Les Grenaches de Pierre.
LES GALLIMARDES Located to the south of the appellation Les Gallimardes is the home of 100 year old Grenache, Syrah and several white varieties. It is classic Chateauneuf terrain made of big round pebbles which help hold the heat over clay. The blend for this wine is 90% Grenache and 10% Syrah. Two passes through the vineyard are made to ensure optimum ripeness and the grapes are typically 100% destemmed. Fermentation, ageing and bottling is basically the same as the Cuvee Tradition.
2009 Chateauneuf du Pape Les Gallimardes Usual Price $105.00 Pre-Arrival Price $90.00 (Limit 2 Bottles) Wine Advocate: A superstar in 2009 is the 2009 Chateauneuf du Pape Les Gallimardes. A blend of 90% Grenache and 10% Syrah, with the Grenache aged in cement tanks and the Syrah in barriques, this wine has a deep ruby/purple color and a striking nose of black raspberries, black currants, cherries, licorice and spring flowers. It is deep, full-bodied, dense, and one of the most concentrated of the 2009s. A terrific effort in this vintage, it should drink nicely for 15 or more years. (92-94 Points) Tanzer: Glass-staining ruby. Spicy, highly fragrant nose features perfumed black raspberry, lavender and candied orange peel and showing hints of smoke and black olive. Dense, sappy and chewy but surprisingly light on its feet; the intense red and dark berry and floral pastille flavors are both taut and rich. Finishes very suave and long, with fully integrated tannins and lingering florality. 91 Points
GRENACHES DE PIERRES This cuvee is sourced from the pure sandy soils in the Crau area and vineyards around Pignan. It is made from 100% Grenache from vines over a century old and is named after the father Pierre. Winemaking is the same as the other red except that the wine is aged 18 months solely in concrete vats. No Grenaches de Pierre was produced in 2009. We offer current release 2008:
2008 Chateauneuf du Pape Grenaches de Pierre Usual Price $115.00 Pre-Arrival Price $99.00 (Limit 2 Bottles) Wine Spectator: Solid, with mulled plum, blackberry and fig fruit all woven together and backed by fruitcake, melted black licorice and espresso hints. A streak of apple wood keeps the finish going, and there's enough reticent fruit here to merit cellaring, as this should stretch out a bit more. Drink now through 2021. 220 cases made. 92 Points Wine Advocate: The 2008 Chateauneuf du Pape Les Grenaches de Pierre, which comes from sandy soils, is 100% Grenache aged totally in cement. This was one of the great 2007s, and they followed it up with one of the few stars of the 2008 vintage. Seductive and sexy, this wine has a medium ruby color and a gloriously fragrant nose of roasted Provencal herbs, ground pepper, kirsch and raspberries. Medium to fullbodied, without a hard edge to it, this is a lavishly lush, voluptuous 2008 which should drink nicely for 7-8 years. Just irresistible! Enjoy it, because they didn’t make this cuvee in 2009. 90 Points Tanzer: Bright ruby. Complex, highly aromatic nose combines vibrant red and dark berries, potpourri, Asian spices and a note of white pepper. Juicy and very intense but surprisingly lithe; spreads out to stain the palate with intense berry and spice flavors. Quite distinctive and already showing very good complexity. 91 Points