Girardin, Chambolle-Musigny (Burgundy, France) Vieilles Vignes 2005

($52, Vineyard Brands): Girardin makes little or no wine from premier cru vineyards in the Côte de Nuits, opting to buy grapes from growers who own plots classified simply as Chambolle-Musigny, presumably because he feels they deliver better value.   I hate to classify a $50 wine as a ‘value wine,’ but considering Burgundy, especially in the 2005 vintage, it probably is.  The fleshy silkiness, the hallmark of Chambolle-Musigny, is combined with ripe forward fruitiness and a touch of Burgundian earthiness. 90 Michael Apstein Jul 31, 2007