Good deep healthy red. Superripe nose offers licorice, caraway seed and a raisiny nuance; quite different from the 2005s that preceded it. Superripe, rich, seamless and fat but this one shows a slightly aggressive warmth as well as a raisiny aspect to its ripe fruit. I find more volume but less clarity and verve than in the Suchots-and the 2006 version of this cuvee is fresher. Finishes with big, dusty tannins. Comes across as the New World pinot among this group in 2005.

Full bottle 1,307 g. Pale ruby with an orange rim. Sweet, delicate and very interesting and nicely balanced on the nose. This bottle still shows much more tannin than the last one I enjoyed. Meaty and sturdy – almost more like a Rhône! Unlike the last bottle tasted this bottle is telling me to go away and leave the wine alone. (JR)