Vieux Chateau Certan 2006

THE WINE ADVOCATE: "Tasted blind at Farr Vintners' horizontal, the 2006 Vieux Château Certan remains an outstanding proposition. It has an airy red cherry and raspberry bouquet, a hint of bergamot tea in the background, succinctly defined, even if the fruit needs some encouragement from the glass. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannin. The acidity is well judged, harmonious in the mouth, quite smooth with hints of truffle oil and white pepper towards the composed, quite sensual finish. Give this a couple of more years in bottle and then it should drink well for at least a couple of decades."

WINE ENTHUSIAST: "95-97 Barrel Sample A ripe, perfumed wine with spice and sweet, delicious fruit, sustained by dense, opulent tannins and red fruits. A greater dominance of Merlot in the wine in 2006 has resulted in a richer, fatter wine than usual."

THE WINE CELLAR INSIDER: "Showing a beautiful ruby hue, the melange of truffle, red berries, plum and dark cherries pops up with little effort. The fruit displays a spicy quality, with a beautiful purity in its essence. But the palate is perhaps the best part of the experience with its silky, lush, voluptuous textures. 2006 is one of the few vintages when the blend mirrors the vineyard planting. 70% Merlot, 25% Cabernet Franc and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon."

WINE SPECTATOR: "Shows complex and subtle aromas of dried dark fruits and blueberry. Full-bodied, with silky tannins and a long, refined finish. Very fine. Solid and balanced, with lovely sweet fruit on the finish. All in place for the vintage. Best from 2014 through 2020. 3,255 cases made."

JAMES SUCKLING: "I love the texture here. This is really impressive for 2006, which is a good but not great vintage. Blackberries, dark chocolate, and lightly roasted oak. Full-bodied, yet holding back with great finesse and strength. Pull the cork in 2015."

WEINWISSER: "Dunkles Granat mit lila Schimmer. Reifes Bouquet, viel frisch gerösteter Kaffee, dunkle Edelhölzer, Hirschleder und warme Pflaumentöne dahinter. Eleganter, sehr feiner Gaumen, im Innern mit kerniger Note und körnigen Tanninen, weniger Finessen im Mund als in der Nase, ein fleischiger VCC."

JANCIS ROBINSON: "Normal ruby with an attractive tea-leaf aroma. This wine does not seem forced or dry. Very sweet start and attractive balance and nuance. Very luscious and dense and fruity and gorgeous. I wanted to swallow it even though it was probably the 90th wine of the session! Not one of the sweetest but one of the better balanced. Very long and outstanding. Long."