4 | Wine | Rhone, 2006

"An incredibly subtle perfume of black raspberries, creme de cassis, camphor, and acacia flowers is followed by an elegant, concentrated wine with beautifully integrated acidity, tannin, wood, and alcohol. This seamless, gorgeously-proportioned, large-framed wine represents the definition of finesse, elegance, and terroir." Reviewed by Robert Parker.

"High-pitched, expressive aromas of raspberry, red licorice, spice cake and violet. Silky and perfumed in the mouth, with a suave texture and appealing sweetness to flavors of raspberry, strawberry liqueur and blood orange. Very pure and precise, finishing with silky tannins and noteworthy verve."

"Intense, rich and remarkably focused, this offers stunning purity of fruit, such as Jonagold apple and Cavaillon melon, along with enticing heather honey, roasted macadamia nut, orange blossom and dried persimmon notes, all laid over a dense but brilliantly defined palate. The nearly endless finish of beeswax and buttered brioche is absolutely fantastic. Drink now or hold for a decade. Perhaps the best white produced here to date."

"The 2006 Cote Rotie La Landonne may merit a three digit score by the time it is bottled. A dense purple color is accompanied by an extraordinary bouquet of burning embers, espresso roast, black currants, blackberry liqueur, and pain grille. With aeration, bacon fat and licorice characteristics also emerge. The sweetness of the tannin, the extraordinary intensity of the flavors, and the remarkable finish suggest this is another legendary effort from Marcel Guigal and his son, Philippe." Reviewed by Robert Parker, 96-98 pts.

"Intensely floral scents of raspberry, blackberry, cinnamon, allspice and smoky minerals. Open-knit red and dark berry flavors are strikingly pure and underscored by a tangy note of blood orange. Extremely fresh wine with excellent finishing thrust and mineral-driven persistence. With air this became even more floral and picked up subtle tannins; I'd bet on it being very attractive in its youth." 94-96 pts.

"A very grippy style, with lots of sweet tapenade, tobacco, hot stone and braised chestnut notes weaving through a core of dark currant and fig fruit. There's a nice twinge of lavender on the structured finish."

"The stunning 2006 Rayas Chateauneuf du Pape Blanc possesses aromas of acacia flowers, honeysuckle, melon, quince, and orange marmalade. Amazingly, this brilliant example of white Chateauneuf du Pape should last for 10-20 years." Reviewed by Robert Parker.

"Deep, youthfully brooding aromas of cassis, cherry compote, plum, olive tapenade, roasted coffee and burning incense. Dense and sappy in the mouth, displaying sweet black raspberry and cherry pit qualities, with chewy tannins adding grip and gaining power with air. Really takes over the palate, eventually finishing with superb sweet length and a bitter cherry bite."