2006 Chateauneuf du Pape Cuvee Prestige

Deep red. Expressive aromas of dark cherry, blackcurrant, Indian spices and smoky herbs. Round, supple dark fruit flavors coat the palate, sweetened by suave vanilla and cola qualities. Gains firmness on the focused, long finish. This could use some time to stretch out but is already quite impressive.

The dense ruby/purple-colored, full-bodied 2006 Chateauneuf du Pape Cuvee Prestige offers up notes of licorice, kirsch liqueur, lavender, and spice box. It is a superbly concentrated, opulent, flamboyant wine to drink now and over the next 15+ years. Proprietor Jean-Jacques Sabon and the other younger family members are taking these wines to even greater quality heights than previously attained. The new vintages possess updated, more polished labels, but more importantly, the wines continue to go from what were very strong efforts in the past, to even deeper concentration, complexity, and depth. All four cuvees are now routinely outstanding, with the top two offerings, the Cuvee Prestige and the limited production Le Secret des Sabon, compelling Chateauneufs. As with many estates, the 2007s exhibit the vintage’s succulent, juicy, incredibly pure fruit and tremendous freshness and vivacity, all packed into substantial, full-bodied wines with surprisingly high alcohols given their vibrancy. One might expect such greatness in 2007 in Chateauneuf du Pape, but the Sabons have also hit the heights in the excellent 2006 vintage. Importer: Eric Solomon, European Cellars, Charlotte, NC: tel. (704) 358-1565

Transparent crimson. Straightforward ripe fruit that seems to belong more to the traditional bottling than special cuvée camp on the nose. Nice wine with real vivacity and ripe fruit and harmony but it reminds me more of some of the best straightforward traditional bottlings than a special cuvée. Masses of alcohol on the finish…. 80 year old vines on average apparently. (JR)