2006 Château Haut-Bergey

Very dark. Big and round and fleshy. Could do with just a little more freshness and precision. (JR)

Bright, deep ruby-red. Wild, musky aromas of plum, dark cherry, truffle and game, lifted by menthol and licorice. Supple and sweet, offering pure, nicely delineated red fruit flavors and considerable early appeal. A lively, firm midweight, finishing with solid, dusty tannins and very good lift and length. Tasted next to the Branon, also from the Garcin family and consulting winemaker Alain Raynaud, this was less exotic and lush but perhaps more classic and vibrant.

Consistently one of the top, under-the-radar wines of Pessac-Leognan, Haut-Bergey’s beautiful 2006 boasts a deep ruby/purple hue as well as a classic bouquet of hot rocks intermixed with graphite, cassis, incense, and charcoal. Medium to full-bodied with noticeable but sweet tannin, impressive purity, and an alluring texture, it is relatively evolved for a 2006, so consumption over the next 15 years is recommended.