Bordeaux 2006 at Ten Years: Pessac-Léognan
Pessac-Léognan is another appellation with rather limited representation at this tasting of 2006 Bordeaux at ten years of age, but what superb representatives they have sent. Although only seven wines were tasted, this baker’s half-dozen (I’m sure that phrase doesn’t exist – or at least it didn’t until now) included all the top names of the appellation, and as a result there were some delicious, impressive, high-scoring wines on show here.
Starting anywhere other than the magnificent 2006 Château Haut-Brion feels a little like trying to ignore a very large elephant in a very small room (not that I have personal experience of that particular activity). This was, on the day, the best wine by far, and looking across the tasting as a whole also just one of a trio of wines I scored at this very high level. Its eternal companion, Château La Mission Haut-Brion, was also superb in this vintage. On previous encounters I have rated these two wines the other way around, with La Mission just pipping Haut-Brion to the post, but on this occasion I came down on the side of the 2006 Château Haut-Brion, although quite which way the order flips isn’t really that important. If I had either of these in the cellar (oh, if only!) I would be very content indeed (I would also be down in my cellar right now, pulling the corks, glass in hand).
