Magdelaine 2006

Closed and difficult to fathom, this wine is certainly not performing up to what I expected from my initial tasting. Either this wine is going through an ungraceful stage, or I simply overrated it from barrel. Deep ruby in color, with the classic black cherry, licorice, spice box, and cedary nose, the firm, structured, medium-bodied flavors exhibit excellent depth and the potential for longevity, but then clamp down tightly with a wall of tannin and acids. This is a wine to forget for at least 5-6 years. Drink it over the following 15-20.

Tasted at JP Moueix offices. A rather disappointing Magdelaine this year. Very little on the diffuse, earthy nose. Medium-bodied, a little scrawny but lacking the breeding that this property is capable of. Light and ephemeral. Tasted April 2007.

A pleasant, medium-bodied wine, with caressing tannins and a medium finish. Silky, with good berry and chocolate character. A little more midpalate would be nice.

Relatively light crimson. Simple red wine nose - even slightly jammy. Low-key nose and very mild palate impact. Compact with a very dry finish. Grainy, sandy tannins. Fresh fruit. Simple at this stage but neat and comfortable in its own skin. Discreet but well balanced. Really very easy, not much structure, although the result is actually quite a nice short term drink. Lightly inky. Pretty dry tannins insist on the finish but not horribly overdone. Neat medium intensity finish.

Sweet black cherry aromas interwoven with notions of crushed rocks, herbs, and spice emerge from the 2006 Magdelaine. The moderately intense aromatics are followed by a dark ruby/plum-tinged wine with more structure than usual, as well as sweet fruit and impressive elegance and purity. This is never a big St.-Emilion, but the 2006 is handsomely rendered. It will be at its peak between 2009-2018.