2006 UGC Tasting
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2006 Union des Grands Crus Tasting at VinExpo
*** Three Stars Christoph-Sublime Wine for this report
La Lagune
** Two Stars Christoph-Exceptional wines for this report
Brainaire-Ducru
Canon La Gaffeliere
Leoville-Poyferre
Pichon-Baron
Troplong Mondot
* One Star Christoph-Recommended wines for this report
Angelus
Brane-Cantenac
Cantenac-Brown
Clinet
Domaine de Chevalier
Giscours
Gruaud-Larose
Franc Mayne
La Dominique
Leoville Barton
Les Carmes Haut Brion
Graves
1. Domaine de Chevalier-stony nose, pepper, black
raspberry on the medium-bodied palate, finish.
Recommended for medium term aging. *
2. La Louviere-restrained nose, funky medium light palate,
disjointed, almost harsh.
3. Les Carmes Haut-Brion-bright red fruit, lightly burnt
tobacco, red pepper, pretty and light. Recommended for
early drinking. *
4. Pape Clement-bit of barnyard, lack some middle, hot on
the end, disappointing.
St. Emilion
5. Angelus-somewhat closed nose today of dark plums and
raisins, unctuous creamy palate with hints of cloves and
steel. Recommended for hedonists with patience and kind. *
6. Beausejour-Becot-delicate mint and blueberry nose, light
body, medium finish. Needs more lift in the middle.
7. Canon La Gaffeliere-pretty nose, floral, tobacco, pink
peppercorn, gradually great concentration and smooth
palate, medium full body onto crushed red currants, very
fine with outstanding persistence, a delightful roasted
quality without being overdone. Exceptional now, will gain
weight and accolades. **
8. Figeac-odd nose of grapefruit, coarse bitter sweet red
fruits on the palate, medium light, somewhat simple and
lacking a middle to latch one’s tongue to.
9. Clos Fourtet-fresh, blackberry nose, soft candied, not
much structure as it melts beneath oak.
10. Franc Mayne-floral leading to licorice and black olive,
pretty, light and long. Recommended for the near term. *
11. La Dominique-blackberry and interesting earthy nose,
somewhat light in weight and reserved at the moment,
recommended to wait for it to flesh out. *
12. Larcis Ducasse-very light, simple red fruits, short,
tugged by tannins.
13. Troplong Mondot-roasted meats, blackberry and fennel
on the devilishy exotic nose, good weight, finely woven
tannins on the smooth lengthy finish, exceptional from the
get go and 15 years on. **
Pomerol
14. Beauregard-plums, soft fleshy at first then hollow at
odd parts when you are just starting to get a feel, needs
something.
15. Clinet-reticent, medium-full weight, smoked meats and
overripe blueberries, excellent tannin struture, difficult to
evaluate at the moment, may merit another star,
recommended to cellar. *
16. Gazin-pretty floral nose, peppery rough palate,
splinters, missing a few sections of the road, medium
weight.
17. La Cabanne-light color and palate, blueberry, adequete
without distinction or note.
18. La Conseillante-floral, spiney, touch of heat, atypically
heavy and clumsy for this chateau.
Medoc
19. La Lagune-complex wet earth, boysenberry nose,
becoming more cassis and graphite, excellent weight, very
tannic, but balanced, best Lagune in ages, sublime Grand
Vin to cellar effortlessy for years ***
Margaux
20. Brane-Cantenac-mushrooms, wild berries, medium full
body with adequate tannins somewhat coarse though
flavorful, recommended to give time to integrate. *
21. Cantenac-Brown-inticing, heady perfume, medium-light
body with some structure and minerals. Recommended
early drinking Margaux. *
22. du Tertre-barnyardy, rustic, chunky.
23. Giscours-Stoney red currants, nervy with great
concentration and firm finish driving down the quarry.
Recommended for medium term aging. *
24. Kirwan-hay, very light.
25. Lascombes-touch vanilla, fresh, charcoal, good cassis
fruit, smooth, though polished with a bit much
oak for its mast's weight.
26. Prieure-Lichine-thin and uninspired product.
St. Julien
27. Branaire Ducru-almond kissed huckleberries, more wild
dark berries, hint of fresh sage, medium weight, very fine
with an exceptional elegance that will age. **
28. Gruaud Larose-Resticent, tarry nose, medium-full
weight, black pepper, licorice, touch gamey though clean,
recommended to cellar more than others in the vintage *
29. Leoville Barton-small white flowers, violets, sweet and
sour cherries, lithe, a bit elusive at the moment perhaps
exceptional with extreme patience, recommended for the
cellar. *
30. Leoville Poyferre-purple, black with dark fruits and
verdot spice, fully intense with rocky notes and acid, an
exceptional drink now and to age **
31. Talbot-Basil, floral, medium light, creme de cassis,
perfectly drinkable if not fine.
*** Three Stars Christoph-Sublime Wine for this report
La Lagune
** Two Stars Christoph-Exceptional wines for this report
Brainaire-Ducru
Canon La Gaffeliere
Leoville-Poyferre
Pichon-Baron
Troplong Mondot
* One Star Christoph-Recommended wines for this report
Angelus
Brane-Cantenac
Cantenac-Brown
Clinet
Domaine de Chevalier
Giscours
Gruaud-Larose
Franc Mayne
La Dominique
Leoville Barton
Les Carmes Haut Brion
Graves
1. Domaine de Chevalier-stony nose, pepper, black
raspberry on the medium-bodied palate, finish.
Recommended for medium term aging. *
2. La Louviere-restrained nose, funky medium light palate,
disjointed, almost harsh.
3. Les Carmes Haut-Brion-bright red fruit, lightly burnt
tobacco, red pepper, pretty and light. Recommended for
early drinking. *
4. Pape Clement-bit of barnyard, lack some middle, hot on
the end, disappointing.
St. Emilion
5. Angelus-somewhat closed nose today of dark plums and
raisins, unctuous creamy palate with hints of cloves and
steel. Recommended for hedonists with patience and kind. *
6. Beausejour-Becot-delicate mint and blueberry nose, light
body, medium finish. Needs more lift in the middle.
7. Canon La Gaffeliere-pretty nose, floral, tobacco, pink
peppercorn, gradually great concentration and smooth
palate, medium full body onto crushed red currants, very
fine with outstanding persistence, a delightful roasted
quality without being overdone. Exceptional now, will gain
weight and accolades. **
8. Figeac-odd nose of grapefruit, coarse bitter sweet red
fruits on the palate, medium light, somewhat simple and
lacking a middle to latch one’s tongue to.
9. Clos Fourtet-fresh, blackberry nose, soft candied, not
much structure as it melts beneath oak.
10. Franc Mayne-floral leading to licorice and black olive,
pretty, light and long. Recommended for the near term. *
11. La Dominique-blackberry and interesting earthy nose,
somewhat light in weight and reserved at the moment,
recommended to wait for it to flesh out. *
12. Larcis Ducasse-very light, simple red fruits, short,
tugged by tannins.
13. Troplong Mondot-roasted meats, blackberry and fennel
on the devilishy exotic nose, good weight, finely woven
tannins on the smooth lengthy finish, exceptional from the
get go and 15 years on. **
Pomerol
14. Beauregard-plums, soft fleshy at first then hollow at
odd parts when you are just starting to get a feel, needs
something.
15. Clinet-reticent, medium-full weight, smoked meats and
overripe blueberries, excellent tannin struture, difficult to
evaluate at the moment, may merit another star,
recommended to cellar. *
16. Gazin-pretty floral nose, peppery rough palate,
splinters, missing a few sections of the road, medium
weight.
17. La Cabanne-light color and palate, blueberry, adequete
without distinction or note.
18. La Conseillante-floral, spiney, touch of heat, atypically
heavy and clumsy for this chateau.
Medoc
19. La Lagune-complex wet earth, boysenberry nose,
becoming more cassis and graphite, excellent weight, very
tannic, but balanced, best Lagune in ages, sublime Grand
Vin to cellar effortlessy for years ***
Margaux
20. Brane-Cantenac-mushrooms, wild berries, medium full
body with adequate tannins somewhat coarse though
flavorful, recommended to give time to integrate. *
21. Cantenac-Brown-inticing, heady perfume, medium-light
body with some structure and minerals. Recommended
early drinking Margaux. *
22. du Tertre-barnyardy, rustic, chunky.
23. Giscours-Stoney red currants, nervy with great
concentration and firm finish driving down the quarry.
Recommended for medium term aging. *
24. Kirwan-hay, very light.
25. Lascombes-touch vanilla, fresh, charcoal, good cassis
fruit, smooth, though polished with a bit much
oak for its mast's weight.
26. Prieure-Lichine-thin and uninspired product.
St. Julien
27. Branaire Ducru-almond kissed huckleberries, more wild
dark berries, hint of fresh sage, medium weight, very fine
with an exceptional elegance that will age. **
28. Gruaud Larose-Resticent, tarry nose, medium-full
weight, black pepper, licorice, touch gamey though clean,
recommended to cellar more than others in the vintage *
29. Leoville Barton-small white flowers, violets, sweet and
sour cherries, lithe, a bit elusive at the moment perhaps
exceptional with extreme patience, recommended for the
cellar. *
30. Leoville Poyferre-purple, black with dark fruits and
verdot spice, fully intense with rocky notes and acid, an
exceptional drink now and to age **
31. Talbot-Basil, floral, medium light, creme de cassis,
perfectly drinkable if not fine.
Commendation
system
*** Sublime- truly
remarkable,
memorable to all
senses; wines that
launch a thousand
tongues or paddles.
**Exceptional-
exceeds
expectations, a top
wine, worth paying
up for and tracking
down.
*Recommended-tru
e to form and type,
worth seeking out
or suggesting to
friends.
Non starred-Not
commended-from
average to
disappointing and
dismal; some
atypical or
overpriced.
Believe none of
what you hear, half
of what you see
and all of what you
taste
system
*** Sublime- truly
remarkable,
memorable to all
senses; wines that
launch a thousand
tongues or paddles.
**Exceptional-
exceeds
expectations, a top
wine, worth paying
up for and tracking
down.
*Recommended-tru
e to form and type,
worth seeking out
or suggesting to
friends.
Non starred-Not
commended-from
average to
disappointing and
dismal; some
atypical or
overpriced.
Believe none of
what you hear, half
of what you see
and all of what you
taste