2006 Chablis
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Tasting notes
Tribut’s hand-harvested 2006 Chablis smells intriguingly of wintergreen or mint, with hints of pepper and citrus zest. Hints of lanolin and vanilla apparently from barrel are nicely integrated on a relatively lushly-textured and obviously ripe palate. (That said, Tribut insists he introduces a minimum of new barrels each year sufficient only to maintain a rotation, but under those circumstances it’s understandable that some of them would end up filled with generic Chablis.) Some saline and chalky mineral suggestions impinge on the finish. I would plan to drink this before the end of 2009. Laurent Tribut shares the harvest crew and approximate picking dates with his in-laws Rene and Vincent Dauvissat. He sensitively vinifies his small holdings and prices the results so that they often represent excellent values. Importer: Vineyard Brands, Birmingham, AL; tel. (205) 980-8802
Critic scores
Average Score
Jancis Robinson MW
Stephen Tanzer, Vinous
More reviews and scores
(bottled in August of 2007) Aromas of lemon peel and menthol, plus a whiff of tropical fruits. Sweet, creamy and a bit exotic, with a suggestion of alcoholic warmth in the middle palate and on the aftertaste. In a distinctly fat style yet manages to hold its shape on the back. The minerality compensates for a lack of acidity here, notes Tribut, who told me the alcohol level here is close to 14%.
A bit rich and round for a Chablis – very low acid and what seems to be quite high alcohol! Unprepossessing. (JR)
Lemon, hay and minerals on the nose. Juicy, ripe and supple, with a flavor of crystallized lemon peel. In a very rich, round, rather soft style, with a slightly aggressive impression of alcohol (13.5% here; the '05 was 14%).