Beauséjour Duffau 2006

With such a great terroir, I hope to one day taste another wine like their immortal 1990. Dark raspberries, crushed rock, and a hint of blueberry are present in this medium-bodied, very good wine that wins points on the sheer complexity of its noble aromatics. The flavors don't quite live up to that, but they are medium-bodied, display a certain angularity, and like so many vintages, the smell is almost worth the price of admission.

Tasted both at the château and then blind at Farr Vintners' tasting, the 2006 Château Beauséjour Duffau Lagarrosse does not seem to be ageing as well as I had expected. It feels rustic and rather smudged on the nose, simple mulberry, red plum and dried white flower scents, but it never really soars from the glass. There is something almost attic here. The palate is medium bodied with dry tannin, rather brittle and angular in the mouth with sharp acidity. There is a hardness to this 2006 that does not augur well for the future. Fortunately, far superior wines have been forthcoming from this Saint Emilion in recent vintages.

Very pretty wine. Aromatic, with berry, plum and licorice character. Medium-to-full body, with fine tannins and a soft, silky finish.

Very dark purple/black. Meaty, zippy attack on the nose. This wine sort of speeds through the mouth leaving not much trace of fruity core and then there is lots of tannin on the finish and a hint of astringency earlier on. No shortage of energy - just a bit rasping and evanescent on the finish.

Tasted privately with a negotiant. This has a rather odd nose that is slightly volatile. Soy, dates, some excess alcohol. Full-bodied palate, furry tannin, huge grip. A little low in acidity, muscular, meaty with a long toasty finish. A little unrefined - the Bécot has more composure and charm. It may improve with barrel ageing. Tasted April 2007.