Complete opinion on 2006 vintage wines

If you've arrived here, it's because you want to know more about the wines of 2006! Our team is proud to present our vintage guide. You'll find details of all the major French wine-growing regions. Don't hesitate to discover our 2006 bottles on the site. Bottles are stored in a cellar with controlled hygrometry, and levels are checked at the time of purchase. We offer for sale the finest bottles of French wines, from old vintages to mature 2006!

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• THE 2006 BORDEAUX VINTAGE

Everyone agrees that it's impossible to make a great vintage if the weather isn't exceptional. The 2006 vintageThis year's vintage, which has the onerous task of coming on the heels of an exceptional 2005 vintage, is about to be struck by Mother Nature's thunderbolts. With the weather more than a little complicated, the winegrowers won't know which way to turn. As elsewhere in France, the vintage was special in Bordeaux. Despite a classic winter, budburst was late, taking place in April. This was followed by a good spring, with alternating periods of fine weather and rain.

It's difficult for the vineyard to achieve a uniform flowering. The month of July brought its fair share of dubious weather, with hot days and stormy evenings that hampered grape ripening. August was a poor month, with very low temperatures and heavy rainfall. Conditions were not really ripe to produce a great vintage, even if the vines and winegrowers struggled to reach suitable alcoholic and phenolic ripeness. September was no exception to the rule, with almost constant rain, especially on the Pessac Léognan and Saint Emilion wines. The year turned out to be average, and the grapes were harvested in a difficult sanitary state. The year will favor Cabernet Sauvignon over Merlot. Except for the great terroirs, which will manage to attenuate the effect of rain to bring a maximum of minerals to the fruit balls.

As for the white wines, they are aromatic and fruity, but won't have great ageing potential. They've probably all already been drunk. For the sweet whites, the task is going to be complicated. The months of August and September are not going to give satisfaction, which will result in very heterogeneous ripeness depending on the plots.

As you can see, the 2006 vintage is a difficult one, and you'll need to select your wines carefully to be sure of getting quality juice, because yes, some châteaux will still make a success of their wine. Pomerol and Saint-Julien are certainly the two AOCs least affected by this vintage. With this in mind, we suggest Château Branaire Ducru 2006 on Saint-Julien, composed mainly of Cabernet Sauvignon, and aged in barrels for 18 months, it will bring all its complexity to a stewed meat. For lovers of the Libourne region, we have wines from Château La Pointe 2006, in the Pomerol appellation. Rich, opulent and velvety. Pairs well with red meats.

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• THE 2006 VINTAGE IN BURGUNDY

Burgundy's winegrowers won't have an easy time of it either, as the weather will be very complicated to manage. Unlike in Bordeaux, the vegetative cycle is going to be much earlier. Nothing negative for the moment, unless the weather gets complicated. And this was the case... May will be a typical month, but July will offer periods of great heat, accompanied by cool, wet spells in August. This will slow down the vegetative cycle and cause the vines to lose their lead. Fortunately, September is going to be kind to winegrowers and the weather is going to be rather good, which will enable owners to bring in grapes in good conditions. A major sorting operation will be needed in the winery to select the grapes that have not been attacked by disease. Although low in quantity, the wines are still of good quality, although once again, we need to be certain of the quality of the sorting and vinification carried out by the owners. Red wines from the Côte de Nuits and whites from the Côte de Beaune and Chablis should be preferred.

For lovers of red wines, we have a Volnay 1er cru du domaine de la Pousse d'Or 2006. Pinot Noir's finesse and suppleness make it the perfect accompaniment to poultry with character.

For fans of whites, we have a few references from Maison Louis Latour, with the flagship Meursault 1er cru Genevrières 2006With its very mineral, delicate and fatty mouthfeel, it will be perfect with white fish, for example.

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•  THE 2006 RHONE VALLEY VINTAGE

If there's one region to salute in the 2006 vintage, it's the Rhône Valley. And sometimes, it can come down to very little. After all, the weather in the Rhône was relatively similar to that in the rest of the country, with periods of fine weather, cool spells and periods of rain. After normal vine development, July will be a good month for development, on time or even slightly ahead of schedule. August will then see periods of cool weather, favoring very slow vine development. Ideal for the more powerful, warmer Rhône wines. As with the 2005 vintage, the Mistral wind also played its part in helping the vines get through the rainy periods without too much difficulty. As a result, the grapes are healthy, mature and, above all, well-balanced, with excellent levels of polyphenols (color and tannins), which counterbalance the sugar-acidity balance. The 2006 vintage will offer very delicate, long-lasting reds and highly aromatic whites.

For those who want to discover the great wines of the 2006 vintage, we still have some Hermitages red from Domaine Ferraton et Fils. With its notes of toast and tobacco. Perfect with lamb. A little further south, we have Châteauneuf du Pape from Château de Vaudieu 2006. More heady and powerful, the leather and animal aromas are interesting to taste.

 

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• THE 2006 VINTAGE IN THE REST OF FRANCE

Years come and go, but they're never the same... In 2005, everything was beautiful and pink, and in 2006, everything is black and white. A year of contrasts: rain and sun, heat and cool. From the North-East to the South-West, the weather was capricious.

L'AlsaceIn contrast to many other regions, September saved the day. August brought heavy rain, but the following month brought stability, despite some rain in the second half. Sorting and quality winemaking will be essential.

In the LoireIt's going to be a very, very complicated year. July will be hot and stormy, while August will be cool and wet. As for the final sprint in September, the weather will record heavy precipitation. In these conditions, it will be difficult to produce great Pinot Noir or Cabernet Franc.