Chateau Clos Fourtet 2006

DECANTER: "With a sweeter nose compared to the 2002, this wine showcases upfront ripe fruit and chocolate cake rather than light brownie. It is hard not to admire its profound mid palate with juicy sap, fine-grained tannin: suave and balanced. Long finish. It should be on a plateau for another couple of decades. Try with Beef Wellington. 3.69pH."

THE WINE ADVOCATE: "Tasted at Bordeaux Index's annual 10-Year On tasting in London.The 2006 Clos Fourtet has a ripe, forward kirsch and iodine-scented bouquet, blueberries emerging time with just a faint touch of volatility that in some ways has become part of this Saint Emilion's character profile. You have to stand back and admire its bavura. The palate is maturing nicely, better than 2006 Troplong-Mondot with black cherries, blackcurrant, tar and Asian spices. This is nicely focused and shows superb freshness, a Saint Emilion that appears to have meliorated in bottle. Tasted January 2016."

FALSTAFF: "Dunkles Rubingranat, violette Reflexe, dezente Randaufhellung. Zunächst etwas zurückhaltend, reife dunkle Waldbeeren, Kräuterwürze. Etwas Teer und Tabak. Mittlere Komplexität, rote Waldbeeren, dezenter Säurebogen, etwas blättrig im Finale, wirkt bereits etwas stärker gereift, würziger Abgang mit rotem Beerenkonfit im Nachhall."

WINE ENTHUSIAST: "Smoky and spicy aromas set the scene for a wine that plays on its wood and toast. These give a smooth texture to the berry fruits and dried raisins. At this stage in its development, the wine is still tight, but as it opens out its concentration will come through more, and the freshness of2006's Merlot will show strongly."

WEINWISSER: "Dunkles, tiefes Granat, lila Reflexe. Aromatisches Bouquet, Zedernholznoten. Bleistiftmine, blaubeerige Frucht, recht nobel und delikat. Fester Gaumen, gut stützende Tannin-Säure-Struktur, noch etwas vordergründig."

WINE SPECTATOR: " Crushed blackberry, dark chocolate and spices on the nose follow through to a full body, with very soft tannins that turn silky and refined. Fresh, rich and racy. Better than previously reviewed. Best after 2013. 3,330 cases made."