2006 Clos Badon - Thunevin

Hint of meat extract. Quite rich, gentle fruit. Drying on the finish but at least it's not forced. Straightforward. And only slightly rustic. This has a bit of drive. (JR)

(a 50/50 blend of cabernet franc and merlot) Bright ruby-red. Black raspberry, spicecake and coffee on the nose, complemented by sexy smoky oak. Plush and silky on entry, then nicely vinous in the middle, with insinuating minerality and nicely integrated acidity giving shape and energy to the wine's blueberry and espresso flavors. Finishes tactile and persistent, with fine-grained tannins, smoky minerality and nice lift. This lively, suave wine has filled in nicely since I first tasted it the spring after the harvest. (ST)

From the Jean-Luc Thunevin portfolio, this St.-Emilion exhibits pure, ripe black cherry and black currant fruit intermixed with holiday fruitcake spices, cedar, and forest floor. The wine is medium to full-bodied, pure, and nicely textured. Drink it over the next 7-8 years.