The Four Seasons Tasting 2006 Bordeaux First Growths

Tasting of most of the Bordeaux First Growths from 2006 with one from 2001 followed by some dinner wines, some served in magnum. And served with a delicious meal from chef Harold Bresselscmidt

• 2006 Château Mouton Rothschild 98 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac

  (Tasted Blind): 87 CS, 13 Merlot. With a deep garnet colour, the bouquet sparkles with an amazing depth of fruit and intensity, displaying layers of black fruits, graphite and mineral that segues into earthiness, blue fruit and smoke. Fresh and powerfully structured, the entry is pure and focussed with flavours of graphite, blackcurrant, minerals, pencil shavings, menthol, coffee grinds and hints of smoke. Full-bodied with fantastic concentration, the tannins are seamless and in harmony with the fruit, making for an utterly compelling and ethereal experience. Some oak notes on the remarkably long finish, and clean flowing lines make this wine outstanding.

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• 2006 Château Haut-Brion 92 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Graves, Pessac-Léognan

  Deep garnet colour. The bouquet features black and red fruits, bramble, cayenne pepper, bay leaf, sage, and a touch of oxidation. The wine is intense and concentrated on the palate, with powerful tannins and firm acidity. Nevertheless, the ripe, powerful fruit remains well-balanced despite a slight feeling of oxidation. It lacked some depth on the mid-palate, the finish was still lengthy, and the wine was complex and enjoyable but didn't hit the high notes I expected due to the oxidation.

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• 2006 Château Margaux 96 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Margaux

  Deep ruby to garnet colour, the bouquet is lifted with an herbal and vegetal note, some charcoal, cola tonic and pressed red flower petals. Mid to full-bodied, the wine is elegant and refined with an airy feel. Tightly wound, poised with compact, fine-grained tannins. Flavours of blue and red fruits rather than black fruits, wet tobacco leaves, redcurrants, bay leaf, spice and liquorice. The finish is persistent with purity and perfume. It is not the most structured Margaux wine I have had. There is a subtle power to suggest its pedigree, but this plays on the floridity of Margaux. Closes super dry, with perfume (rose), graphite and precision.
  Highly enjoyable.

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• 2006 Château Latour Grand Vin 97 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac

  86 CS, 12 Merlot, 1 CF, 1 PV. With a deep garnet colour, the bouquet is intense and absorbing with undergrowth, black fruits, graphite, and pencil. Very pure and precise with mineral undertones, the palate reveals layers of complexity with blueberry, blackberry and black raspberry interwoven with pencil shavings. This is offset by a fine, penetrating acidity, making this full-bodied wine remarkably approachable. It backed up with super fine, resolved tannins. As it opens up, the density of fruit is exceptional, and the finish is tremendous.

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• 2006 Château Angélus 94 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru

  47 CF, 50 Merlot, 3 CS. Deep garnet colour with classic aromas of undergrowth, tar, cedar and baked red fruits that slowly reveal tobacco, chocolate and spice cake. Medium-bodied, the palate entry is intense, richly texture with layered flavours of dark 100% chocolate, clotted cream, ripe red fruits and some baked fruits - very medium acid no more. Thick, dense tannins give a seamless structure, whilst the finish offers water biscuit, a touch of blueberry, and some button mushrooms, adding complexity. It is a robust wine that will need plenty of time to fully open and express its potential. It has a long finish that is slightly warm and generous. It lacked a little precision and acid to be a top vintage for Angelus.

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• 2006 Château La Mission Haut-Brion 97 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Graves, Pessac-Léognan

  Deep garnet-coloured wine with lifted fruit aromas of cherry, red & blackcurrant, bitter chocolate, beef stock and bay leaf. It is medium to full-bodied on the palate with a luxurious combination of cherry, liquorice, wet tobacco and dark chocolate flavours, balanced by firm but dense, chewy tannins. Hints of liquorice, spice cake and tobacco are present, balanced by lingering, fresh acidity. The wine is almost 'showy', utterly appealing with a linear but powerful finish. There is an athletic muscle yet elegance here, which still needs more time in the bottle to reach its full potential for complexity and balance. An outstanding example of quality winemaking!

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• 2001 Château Lafite Rothschild 95 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac

  Mid garnet hue, the nose is intense with clear tertiary notes of cedar, bramble and chocolate, and complex layers of button Mushroom and black truffle.
  Full-bodied, the entry has penetrating savoury notes: the flavours are fruitcake, cola, graphite and button mushrooms with just a few hints of redcurrant. The underlying tannins are fine-grained and reasonably solid, but the lemony acidity provides a firm structural base. Closes with a lingering finish and a subtle hint of liquorice—an excellent, sophisticated wine.

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• 2018 Clarendelle Blanc 88 Points

  France, Bordeaux

  Light, delightful aromas with notes of white peach, Williams pear, gentle spice and clementine flesh. The entry is fleshy with a texture feel of clementine skin that is enrobed with pear and peach flesh. Sweet and juicy, ripe and intense, the wine is clean and fresh in acidity, with a delightful hint of spice. Eloquent and energetic with a good length.
  Made from one-third each of Sauvignon Blanc, Sémillon and Muscadelle.

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• 2009 Château La Croix de Gay 90 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Libournais, Pomerol

  Served in Magnum. Blend of 95% Merlot and 5% Cabernet Franc. A deep ruby to garnet rim, the bouquet feels rustic and a with some Brett notes. Roasted herbs, cola tonic and some red fruits peek through however.
  Medium-bodied, the wine opens with a strong cherry elements and moves to smoky, mineral qualities before displaying dense firm but fine tannins. A long poised finish closes with plenty of sweet cherry to kirsch fruit and intense dark chocolate flavours.

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• 2007 Château Léoville Barton 92 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Julien

  Served from a magnum, the colour is deep garnet; the bouquet reveals a cigar box, black fruits, earth and undergrowth with a specific savoury, rustic twist.
  The palate is medium-bodied, showing remarkable concentration of finely-grained tannins set against a vertical, vibrant acidity. Herbaceous flavours join tilled soil, hung game and cedarwood.
  It shows exceptionally well with great depth and complexity, with an eye to the older-school claret.

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• 2010 Château Larose Perganson 85 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Haut-Médoc

  Deep black garnet colour. Lifted notes of fresh earth and red fruits. The palate is a little high-toned but not quite volatile; the wine is straightforward with pleasant red fruit flavours as well as notes of cola. Robust, medium-bodied and a medium length but with a slight sting to it (VA?). As it opened, it seemed to be cork-affected but not corked.

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• 2008 Château Rieussec 91 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Sauternais, Sauternes

  A mid-yellow-gold colour displaying raised notes of almond paste, ginger, and barley. A fresh and intense entry, lemon-barley, resin, pastry. Nicely integrated, delicious to drink but not overtly compelling, this drinks well.

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