2006 Châteauneuf-du-Pape

"Two thousand six is a spicy vintage, with very good energy and depth," Thierry Sabon told me, lamenting that it may be lost in the frenzy for the 2005s and 2007s. "In an earlier generation it would have been the best of a decade. " As to those two hotly pursued vintages, Sabon believes that 2007 is more elegant than 2005 because the tannins are finer and more harmonious. "Harmony is a very good word to describe the vintage, actually. " (Various importers, including North Berkeley Imports, Berkeley, CA and Michael Skurnik Wines, Syosset, NY)

"Our reputation is for wines of finesse," said Thierry Sabon, "and I try very hard to live up to that by making wines that have concentration without weight." He told me that 2006 was a better vintage for definition of place, but doesn't have the concentration of 2005. "For us, 2006 has black fruit and the depth of 2005, with the balance of 2004," he explained. He also mentioned that one of the strongest marks of 2005 "is a pronounced impression of tapenade." By the way, a bottle of 2000 Cuvee du Papet tasted at the estate in November was extremely elegant, with deep, sweet dark fruit flavors, silky tannins and a long, spicy finish. It's already magnificent but will hold on for years to come. On the subject of the ageability of these wines, Sabon told me that he recently had a bottle of the 1955 (normale, as there was no Papet back then), "and it was just great." (A Peter Vezan Selection; various importers, including North Berkeley Imports, Berkeley, CA and Michael Skurnik Wines, Syosset, NY)

"Our reputation is for wines of finesse," said Thierry Sabon, "and I try very hard to live up to that by making wines that have concentration without weight." He told me that 2006 was a better vintage for definition of place, but doesn't have the concentration of 2005. "For us, 2006 has black fruit and the depth of 2005, with the balance of 2004," he explained. He also mentioned that one of the strongest marks of 2005 "is a pronounced impression of tapenade." By the way, a bottle of 2000 Cuvee du Papet tasted at the estate in November was extremely elegant, with deep, sweet dark fruit flavors, silky tannins and a long, spicy finish. It's already magnificent but will hold on for years to come. On the subject of the ageability of these wines, Sabon told me that he recently had a bottle of the 1955 (normale, as there was no Papet back then), "and it was just great." (A Peter Vezan Selection; various importers, including North Berkeley Imports, Berkeley, CA and Michael Skurnik Wines, Syosset, NY)