Maison Camille Giroud - Among Burgundy's Greatest Negociants

Maison Camille Giroud has a deep history in Burgundy. With humble beginnings in 1865, Camille Giroud began a small boutique negociant business with his namesake. Over the following decades Maison Camille Giroud was a specialist in producing traditional, old-school Burgundy wines.

Their winemaking approach consisted of sourcing from the very best vineyards in in the Cote d'Or, then utilising heavy extraction and long barrel aging for excellent aging potential. Almost all of the wines were then kept back by the winery until they were considered ready to drink, sometimes 30-40 years later.

More than 130 years after Maison Camille Giroud began, the business was purchased by Napa Valley vintner Ann Colgin (of Colgin Cellars) and her husband Joe Wender (a banker and well established wine collector).

This began a new chapter for the business. David Croix (of Domaine des Croix) was brought in as head winemaker/director and with a revamp of the winery and it's facilities, he began to craft pure, modern wines with incredible terroir expression from the various holdings. Maison Camille Giroud's strengths line in the Gevrey-Chambertin and Corton areas of the Cote d'Or.

David Croix recently handed over the reigns in 2016 to Carel Voorhuis, formerly of Domaine d’Ardhuy, to head up the winemaking at Maison Camille Giroud. Continuing David's pure, modern style, the wines have gone from strength to strength.

Today Maison Camille Giroud sits among the top boutique negociants in Burgundy. Combining the well established nature with their modern, dynamic approach and limited wine production make these wines highly sought after and hard to find in France and across the globe. 

Camille Giroud Bourgogne Blanc 2018

For this Bourgogne Blanc, Maison Camille Giroud have selected plots located in the Clos de la Combe in Puligny-Montrachet, in the village of Corpeau which adjoins that of Puligny-Montrachet, in the Côte de Beaune and in the Mâconnais.

'The 2018 Bourgogne Blanc, which had already been bottled, has a fragrant white peach and apricot bouquet. The simple palate displays a waxy texture, grapefruit and light quince notes and a finish that is nicely defined and nutty.' - Neal Martin, Vinous

Camille Giroud Bourgogne Rouge 2018

For this Bourgogne Rouge, Maison Camille Giroud has selected plots from the Côte Chalonnaise just next to Givry, the Côte de Beaune next to Volnay and the Côte de Nuits next to Premeaux-Prissey.

'Tasted from bottle, the 2018 Bourgogne Rouge offers gutsy red berry fruit on the nose. The palate is medium-bodied with rounded, soft tannins, tart red cherries and mulberry toward the simple, easygoing finish. Fine.' - Neal Martin, Vinous

Camille Giroud Vosne-Romanee Les Chalandins 2018

This wine comes from a vineyard located in the town of Flagey-Echezeaux in the place called Les Chalandins, near the lower part of the Grand Cru Clos de Vougeot. Exposed to the south-east and at an altitude of 245 meters, it rests on a deep clayey-silty soil placed on the Bresse marl.

'Glowing red purple. Three ages of fruit but the oldest is 35 years and a great pinot selection. Brilliant nose, perfumed cherries, just perfectly judged ripeness, a little touch of spice and clove from the barrel but the overall impression is of gloriously harmonious ripe and classy fruit. 45% whole bunch was used but does not show at all. Actually this cuvée has been a highlight of the Camille Giroud cellar for the past 15 years.' - 5 star wine. 92-94 Points, Jasper Morris, Inside Burgundy

Camille Giroud Gevrey-Chambertin Les Crais 2018

'The 2018 Gevrey-Chambertin Les Crais has a slightly smudged bouquet that needs to muster a little more delineation. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannins and fleshy red fruit but lacks a bit of bite and tension on the finish. For early drinking.' - Neal Martin, Vinous

Camille Giroud Corton Les Renardes Grand Cru 2017

This wine comes from vines located near the town of Aloxe-Corton, on the top of the Montagne de Corton. Oriented to the south-east, at an altitude of 280 to 340 meters, they rest on a calcareous brown soil resulting from the weathering of Ladoix limestones (or Dalle Nacrée) which disintegrate into plates a few centimeters thick used in the past for traditional Burgundian roofs called "lava". The whole is particularly draining and stony.

'Dense dark red to crimson colour. The bouquet is very full without being too rich, some darker fruit notes, while the fruit kicks on magisterially on the palate. All whole bunch with 30% new wood, very powerful convincing stuff. Just a faint note of chocolate indicates the ripeness but believe you me the fruit retains a dense fresh core. Very persistent.' - 92-94 Points, Jasper Morris, Inside Burgundy

Camille Giroud Gevrey-Chambertin Lavaux Saint-Jacques 1er Cru 2018

This wine comes from vines about 50 years old located in Gevrey-Chambertin in the Lavaut Saint-Jacques climate. Exposed to the south and south-east and at an altitude of 290 to 315 meters, they rest on a calcareous brown soil resulting from the weathering of clay limestones and Premeaux limestones.

'100% whole cluster. Ancient vines in a cool site. Gorgeous glowing purple, and a magical bouquet of pure fresh fruit, violets, rose petals, in a style which I adore – it is spectacular. No more than medium bodied but really long and fine and not too ripe, Will make an ethereal bottle further down the line.' - 5 star wine. 94-96 points, Jasper Morris, Inside Burgundy

Camille Giroud Chambertin Grand Cru 2018

Chambertin takes its name from a Burgundian who owned a field contiguous to Clos-de-Bèze: the property took the name of Chambertin. The winemaker was gifted and his wine famous. Everyone spoke of the “Champs de Bertin” to evoke their vineyard. In the 13th century, Chambertin returned to everyday language.

This wine comes from vines located in the town of Gevrey-Chambertin in the Chambertin climate. Exposed to the south-east, at an altitude of 270 meters, they rest on a calcareous brown soil resulting from the alteration of limestones at Entroques at the bottom of the plot and marls with Ostrea acuminata.

'Three barrels from grapes they pick themselves. Not too deep in colour. Very fine classy and detailed, though in youth the whole cluster effect (50%) does show through. Delicacy with power, a gorgeous detail and precision on the fruit, very persistent, fine-boned, dark fruit with some black notes, compelling.' - 94-98 Points, Jasper Morris, Inside Burgundy

Camille GIroud Charmes-Chambertin Grand Cru 2018

This wine comes from vines about 50 years old, located in the town of Gevrey-Chambertin in the Charmes-Chambertin climate. With an exposure to the south-east and an altitude of 250 meters, they rest on a calcareous brown soil, not very thick resulting from the weathering of limestones at Entroques.

'Whole cluster, bought in grapes, along the route des grands crus. Lighter purple-black, the whole bunches lift otherwise very ripe fruit. However the finish is a delight with a magnificent sweet black cherry fruit and some riper red fruit notes too, plus the persistence. Just over 13.5%' - 93-96 Points, Jasper Morris, Inside Burgundy

Camille Giroud Clos De La Roche Grand Cru 2018

'The 2018 Clos de la Roche Grand Cru is 100% whole cluster and matured in 25% new oak. It has a marvelous bouquet with blackberry, briar, crushed stone and wilted rose petals bursting from the glass. The very well-defined palate displays crisp acidity. A structured and correct Clos de la Roche with an endearingly spicy, black-pepper-tinged finish that lingers wonderfully. Excellent.' - (93-95) points, Neal Martin, Vinous

'One barrel supplied as wine, in whole bunch but a bit more extracted. Very dense deep dark colour but with a heady lifted nose, backed by ripe fruit. Started in new wood but soon taken out. A chocolate note or to at the back., good wine but not quite in the house style' - (92-95) Jasper Morris, Inside Burgundy