Wine Advocate (96)

The dense purple-hued 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon Herb Lamb Vineyard exhibits classic notes of creme de cassis, charcoal/creosote, chocolate, and subtle toasty oak along with beautiful ripeness, sweet tannin, and a full-bodied mouthfeel. It is significantly, as well as atypically, more accessible and fleshy than the 2005, a rarity for these two vintages.

Wine Advocate (94)

Mint, concentrated red and black fruits, smoked meat, and black pepper pungently scent the De Vogue 2006 Bonnes Mares. These migrate with almost implosive intensity to a palate lushly textured though finely tannic and almost implacably dense yet shot through with electric energy. Here are both the caressing and invigorating aspects at once present in so many of the best 2006s, each accentuated. Like so many young wines of its appellation, this is relatively backward and slightly unruly, but the longer the wine takes on air the more both its senses of richness and energy are enhanced. I would give this at least 3-4 years in bottle and anticipate at least 10-12 years of riveting performance.

Vinous (90-93)

(racked a week before my tasting) Medium red. Lively aromas of raspberry, minerals, flowers and menthol. Suave, sappy and juicy, with lovely sneaky flavor intensity to the deep red fruit and mineral flavors. Finishes quite dry and pure, with building, dusty tannins, firm mineral grip and lovely lingering perfume.

Wine Advocate (91)

The de Vogue 2006 Chambolle-Musigny – incorporating some of the young vines of Musigny plus non-cru parcels – smells alluringly of jellied red fruits, brown spices, candied citrus zest, white truffle, and iris. Sweetly-fruited and polished in texture, its bitter-sweet sense of herbal concentrate as well as it reserve of primary fresh fruit juiciness combine for a finish of refreshment, buoyancy, and invigoration that is – in a paradoxical but vintage-typical way – also caressing. You feel very comfortable with it, says Millet trenchantly of this wine and the vintage as a whole. Both floral and subtly marrowy meaty elements persist here as well. This should be a delight over the next half dozen years.

Burghound (95)

An exceptionally fresh and bright nose is complex, refined and sophisticated still as it just exudes class and breed with a fantastically broad array of spicy and pure cool red and black fruit aromas. The spice elements are also reflected by the minerally, serious and delicious medium full-bodied flavors that brim with dry extract on the moderately firm finish that is supported by buried tannins and huge length that doesn't stop. In the realm of being extremely picky there is a hint of backend warmth present but it's not enough to seriously affect the balance. Great stuff that is very much still on the way up yet it's not so backward that it could not be enjoyed now if decanted for 30 minutes or so first. Tasted several times in the last few years with consistent results.

Vinous (93)

Served by Louis-Michel Liger-Belair from double magnum, the 2006 Vosne-Romanée Les Suchots 1er Cru sports a gorgeous, black cherry, sous-bois and white pepper bouquet that still feels youthful (perhaps because of the large format and provenance.) The palate is structured with fine grip, overflowing with vim and vigour. The tannins mellow towards the finish but there remains tremendous weight and sumptuousness here. Excellent. Tasted at La Paulée in Beaune.

Jancis Robinson (18)

Very dark blackish brown. Strange sweet, waxy aromas. Very dry finish. Quite hard work! This needs a LOT of time and is still very tarry on the end though I am inclined to believe it will all come right in the end. Massively packed with flavour. And the tannins are well managed. Bonfire aromas. Great energy.

Wine Advocate (94)

Blended of 78% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot and 2% Petit Verdot, the 2006 Cos d'Estournel is deep garnet colored with a touch of brick, opening with enticing scents of rosemary-crusted roast lamb, dried cherries, baked blackcurrants and mincemeat pie with touches of fallen leaves, cigar box and pencil lead. Medium-bodied, lively and elegantly played in the mouth, it has a firm backbone of chewy tannins and plenty of mineral accents on the long finish.

Revelling in its prestigious heritage, the Croizet-Bages 2006 hails from the eminent Pauillac region of Bordeaux, France – revered worldwide for superb wine craftsmanship. This vintner's offering telegraphs a deep ruby hue, a testament to its blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Cabernet Franc grapes. Intricately matured in seasoned oak barrels, exceptional ageing lends robust tannins, opulent notes of black fruits, and subtle hints of spice to the Croizet-Bages 2006.

The house of Croizet-Bages, part of the lineage of the Grand Cru Classé, remain custodians of traditional wine making values. Their 2006 vintage epitomises these virtues. Harvesting grapes from a splendid 26-hectare vineyard, they patiently coax the nectar into becoming a sophisticated wine. Echoing the finesse of distinct terroir, each sip of Croizet-Bages 2006 engulfs the palate with layers of complex flavours, embodying pure Pauillac nuance. A sublime addition to any discerning fine wine collection.

Wine Advocate (90)

Tasted at Bordeaux Index's annual 10-Year On tasting in London.The 2006 Château d'Armailhac has a feisty bouquet with tobacco and sage-infused red berry fruit that seem open for business, unlike some of the other 2006 Pauillac wines. The palate is medium-bodied with fine, quite supple tannin. There is good weight in the mouth with mint-infused blackberry fruit, fine structure with admirable precision on the finish. All it lacks is the persistence of some of its peers, yet it still constitutes a very fine Pauillac that I probably under-rated out of barrel. Tasted January 2016.

Vinous (88-90)

Pale yellow. Pure aromas of apricot, peach, hazelnut and butter; like an essence of Meursault. Supple, fat and easygoing, with sweet stone fruit and hazelnut flavors carrying through to a long, satisfying finish. Perhaps less refined and nuanced than the Boutonniers but this may be as long.

Wine Spectator (100)

This is very long and intense. Really impressive. Full and very sweet, yet racy and fresh, with spicy botrytis character. Fantastic. Score range: 95-100 -JS

Vinous (93)

(a blend of 50% cabernet sauvignon, 37% merlot and 13% shiraz; 15% alcohol): Medium ruby. Rather reticent aromas of spices, dark chocolate and licorice. Dense and very ripe but juicy, with a lively acid backbone currently suppressing the brooding dark berry and licorice flavors. Finishes with very ripe, dusty tannins and palate-staining persistence. This powerfully concentrated wine needs several years of additional bottle aging.

Hailing from the esteemed Champagne house of De Venoge in France comes De Venoge Blanc De Blancs 2006. This vintage is crafted purely from Chardonnay grapes, sourced from the premier grand cru vineyards of the renowned Côte des Blancs. The astute blend showcases the richness of 2006 vineyards, while expressing the individuality of this distinctive terroir perfectly. Aged in the De Venoge cellars for over twelve years, the wine encapsulates exquisite elegance and sublime depth of flavour.

The De Venoge Blanc De Blancs 2006 displays tantalising notes of citrus fruits, buttery brioche and delicate white flowers, succeeding in an ample, full-bodied palate with a refreshing line of acidity. Its impressive length and precise, mineral-driven finish are testament to its supreme ageing potential and distinguished lineage. De Venoge, esteemed for their dedication to tradition and quality, adds just another masterpiece to its prestigious portfolio.

Wine Advocate (96)

The assemblage of the 2006 Louis XV Brut Millésimé is about the same as the 1995 and 1996—composed of 50/50 Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, all from grand cru villages. The only difference is that the Chardonnay from Le Mesnil-sur-Oger (10% of the assemblage) spent 12 months in oak barrels. Disgorged in January 2017 (dosage: six grams per liter), the 2006 has a golden color and opens with a deep, ripe, elegant and vinous bouquet with toasty and chalky lemon and fresh white fruit flavors. On the palate, this is an intense, round, fresh and complex Louis XV with great purity and finesse. The wine opens on the palate like a soufflé, coating the whole palate without any pressure or weight—gorgeous! This is a delicate and fresh yet well-structured and persistent Louis XV whose intense and long but weightless finish reveals lovely, almost juicy fruit concentration with perfectly integrated freshness and lasting minerality that seems to give additional structure. The 2006 shows a lot of Chardonnay features right now and drinks perfectly today; however, it can be kept under perfect conditions for decades. Just keep it in the box, because the bottle is white and nothing makes a Champagne age faster than exposure to daylight. (Tasted in November 2017 from Lot LL15067017BT.)

Wine Advocate (97)

The 2006 Louis XV Brut Rosé Millésimé is almost the same assemblage as the white, with 50/50 Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, but it gets its marvelous color from the 6% of red Pinot Noir from 40-year-old vines cultivated in the single vineyard La Forêt in Les Riceys. The wine displays a beautifully intense and slightly cloudy/milky pink color. The pink Louis XV is intense yet pure and complex on the nose, with toasty mocha, nougat and concentrated yet chalky/mineral flavored red fruit and paté de fruit aromas. On the palate, this is a round, intense, almost smooth but elegantly pure, dry and fresh, perfectly balanced, structured and charmingly vinous Rosé Champagne with a dominant Pinot Noir character at the moment, although its freshness and tight mineral elegance is driven by the Chardonnay part. The finish is intense yet finessed, with vibrant red currant flavors, very fine tannins, good grip and impressive length. Wild strawberries, raspberries and cherries emerge in the aftertaste. This is a gorgeous food Champagne but you can also meditate with it. I guess I have rarely had better Rosé Champagnes. Tasted November 2017 from Lot LL150 6R5153BT, which was disgorged in February 2016 (dosage: six grams per liter).

Vinous (92+)

Glass-staining purple. Deeply concentrated dark fruit aromas are brightened by zesty minerals and complicated by smoky bacon and Indian spice qualities. Broad and fleshy, with dense cassis and blueberry flavors and a bitter note of cherry skin. Gains freshness with air, taking a turn to brighter red fruits on the finish. This rich, complex wine finishes with youthfully tight grip and lingering spiciness.

Vinous (92+)

Glass-staining purple. Deeply concentrated dark fruit aromas are brightened by zesty minerals and complicated by smoky bacon and Indian spice qualities. Broad and fleshy, with dense cassis and blueberry flavors and a bitter note of cherry skin. Gains freshness with air, taking a turn to brighter red fruits on the finish. This rich, complex wine finishes with youthfully tight grip and lingering spiciness.

Wine Advocate (90)

From 60-80 year old vines in En Champ, Combe du Dessus (by his cuverie) and several smaller estate parcels north of the village, Mortet's 2006 Gevrey-Chambertin Vieilles Vignes received 75% new wood, but the evidence has been buried. Scents of rose hip, dark cherry, and indefinite floral perfumes lead into a silken, subtly saline and savory palate that strikes a thought-provoking as well as sensually satisfying balance between elements carnal, mineral, and fruity. This displays the lift and refinement that render so many 2006s charming, and while it will probably hold up well to 5-7 years of bottle age, I can see no reason for long-deferring the pleasure of its company.

Vinous - Antonio Galloni (97)

The 2006 Dom Pérignon is a beautifully balanced, harmonious Dom Pérignon that strikes an incredibly appealing stylistic middle ground. Rich, voluptuous and creamy, the 2006 shows off fabulous intensity in a style that brings together the ripeness of 2002 with the greater sense of verve and overall freshness that is such a signature of the 2004. Bass notes and a feeling of phenolic grip on the finish recall the 2003, as the Pinot Noir is particularly expressive today. After an irregular summer that saw elevated temperatures in July followed by cooler, damp conditions in August, more favorable weather returned in September, pushing maturation ahead and leading to a long, protracted harvest. The 2006 falls into the family of riper, more voluptuous Dom Pérignons, but without veering into the level of opulence seen in vintages such as 2002.

Vinous - Antonio Galloni (97)

The 2006 Dom Pérignon is a beautifully balanced, harmonious Dom Pérignon that strikes an incredibly appealing stylistic middle ground. Rich, voluptuous and creamy, the 2006 shows off fabulous intensity in a style that brings together the ripeness of 2002 with the greater sense of verve and overall freshness that is such a signature of the 2004. Bass notes and a feeling of phenolic grip on the finish recall the 2003, as the Pinot Noir is particularly expressive today. After an irregular summer that saw elevated temperatures in July followed by cooler, damp conditions in August, more favorable weather returned in September, pushing maturation ahead and leading to a long, protracted harvest. The 2006 falls into the family of riper, more voluptuous Dom Pérignons, but without veering into the level of opulence seen in vintages such as 2002.

Experience the finest with Dom Perignon Michael Riedel 2006, a remarkable vintage champagne. Named after the renowned German artist, its exquisite bottle mirrors Riedel's unique contemporary artwork. These limited edition golden bubbles are a testament to the prestigious collaboration between Dom Perignon and Michael Riedel.

Sourced from the finest grapes in Hautvillers, this vintage champagne has evolved subtly over the years, offering a harmonious blend of rich, radiant aromas. Crafted with utmost precision by the skilled vineyard workers, it showcases the unparalleled champagne-making traditions of the house of Dom Perignon. Savour the elegant balance of creamy white fruit notes complemented by a sumptuous caress of brioche and delicate minerality.

With its distinctive character and unrivalled complexity, the Dom Perignon Michael Riedel 2006 offers connoisseurs a rare opportunity to indulge in an outstanding fine wine experience. It truly embodies the unique fusions of art, mastery, and tradition.

Decanter (98)

The Dom Perignon Rosé 2006 is simply amazing. Notes of raspberry, spices and mint jump from the glass in a seductive combination. The texture in the mouth is of precise, crystalline, laser-like tannins in an opulent style. A very great success in a vintage that was not always easy in Champagne.

Decanter (98)

The Dom Perignon Rosé 2006 is simply amazing. Notes of raspberry, spices and mint jump from the glass in a seductive combination. The texture in the mouth is of precise, crystalline, laser-like tannins in an opulent style. A very great success in a vintage that was not always easy in Champagne.