3 | Wine | Saint Julien, 2006

"Ripe aromas of currant, milk chocolate and smoky oak. Lush, sweet and full, with superripe yet backward flavors of dark berries, dark chocolate and minerals. Wonderfully layered, structured wine whose excellent vinosity and firm tannins call for several years of patience." Reviewed by Stephen Tanzer.

"Very perfumed and beautiful. ...showing blackberry and raspberry aromas, with hints of vanilla. Deep and complex. Full-bodied, with chewy tannins and a long, powerful finish. Excellent for the vintage."
This wine was named #96 of Wine Spectator's Top 100 Wines of 2009.

"The opaque purple-hued 2006- only 40% of the crop made it into the final blend- exhibits a personality that mimics the superb 1996. Classic aromas of sweet black raspberries, kirsch, cassis, and subtle toasty oak are followed by a full-bodied, concentrated wine displaying moderately high tannin. This cuvee can often resemble a Pauillac wrapped in the St.-Julien appellation, and the 2006 is no exception." Reviewed by Robert Parker.

"Pure, high-pitched nose offers blueberry, dark chocolate, menthol and cedary oak. Suave, sweet and serious, with lovely inner-mouth lift and energy and sneaky density of texture. Hints of pepper and herbs serve to perk up the wine. Not a particularly chocolatey style for Branaire. Finishes with a lovely light touch and plenty of structure for a leisurely evolution in bottle." Reviewed by Stephen Tanzer, 91(+?) pts.

"A candidate for one of the finest St-Juliens of the vintage. ...St-Pierre’s 2006 is one of the smaller productions in this consistent appellation, making it difficult to find in the marketplace. Its deep opaque purple color is accompanied by notes of roasted herbs, charcoal, graphite, and extravagant creme de cassis and licorice. Full-bodied, powerful, deep, and rich with outstanding balance, purity, texture, and length, this stunning 2006 will be very long-lived." Reviewed by Robert Parker.

"A very strong effort. ...Aromas of espresso roast, subtle pain grille, black currants, and cigar box. Full-bodied and surprisingly powerful for a 2006, with outstanding purity, texture, and depth, patience will be required for this beauty." Reviewed by Robert Parker.

"There's a great dark color to this, with intense aromas of cedar, wood, new leather and crushed blackberry. Full-bodied, with loads of fruit and a firm, powerful palate. Long and mouthpuckering. A muscular baby."
This wine was named #64 of Wine Spectator's Top 100 Wines of 2009.