2006 Bernadotte

Primarily a blend of equal parts Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, with a small amount of Petit Verdot, this offering (from the owners of Pichon Lalande) exhibits a classic style with notes of licorice, roasted herbs, cedar, and black currants. Medium-bodied with fine ripeness as well as moderate tannin, purchasers should cellar it for 2-3 years and drink it over the following 12-15.

Excellent depth of crimson. Pepper and incense on the nose – most interesting! Thick and sweet and very much better than most Haut-Médocs. Real concentration. With the tannins extremely well managed – very glamorous indeed. Bravo! Note of green pepper only on the very very end. [blind] Thick and sweet and rather charming even if the tannins are terribly dry – there is quite impressive ripe fruit here too. (JR)

(51% merlot, 46% cabernet sauvignon and 3% petit verdot) Bright ruby-tinged red. Cool aromas of currant, cherry and mint. Juicy, pliant and sweet, with a bit more texture than past vintages. Finishes with chewy but nicely ripe tannins. The goal here is apparently to make Bernadotte "more seductive" by using a bit of micro-oxidation between the end of the alcoholic fermentation and the malolactic.