2006 La Tour Carnet

Very deep crimson. Light cassis nose. Rather simple raw fruit. Finishes a bit scrawnily. Dense, much denser than most in this flight, but much of that density is raw tannin. (JR)

Bright ruby-red. Dark berries, sweet cherry, licorice and sexy oak on the vibrant nose. Dense, juicy and light on its feet, with intense, sharply delineated dark berry flavors complemented by oak. Finishes clean and persistent, with suave, palate-dusting tannins and lingering berry fruit. This subtly complex and lively wine is a major outperformer for its appellation.

A fabulous sleeper of the vintage, this estate, which has made a succession of brilliant wines under the administration of Bordeaux’s visionary Bernard Magrez, has turned out another terrific effort. A blend of 50% Merlot, 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, and the rest Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, this wine exhibits a sensational smorgasbord of aromas ranging from red and black fruits to toasty oak to licorice, high quality cigar tobacco, and spice box. Flavorful and full-bodied, with rich fruit, moderate but sweet tannin, and a long, pure finish, this is a dazzling effort in 2006 that should hit its adolescent stage in about 4-5 years and last for two decades. Excellent value.