|
|
|
ONLINE FEATURES
Book Reviews
BW Video
Columnists
Interactive Gallery
Newsletters
Past Covers
Philanthropy
Podcasts
Special Reports
BLOGS
Auto Beat
Bangalore Tigers
Blogspotting
Brand New Day
Byte of the Apple
Economics Unbound
Eye on Asia
Fine On Media
Green Biz
Hot Property
Investing Insights
Management IQ
NEXT: Innovation
NussbaumOnDesign
Tech Beat
Working Parents
TECHNOLOGY
J.D. Power Ratings
Product Reviews
Tech Stats
Wildstrom: Tech Maven
AUTOS
Home Page
Auto Reviews
Classic Cars
Car Care & Safety
Hybrids
INNOVATION
& DESIGN Home Page Architecture Brand Equity Auto Design Game Room SMALLBIZ Smart Answers Success Stories Today's Tip INVESTING Investing: Europe Annual Reports BW 50 S&P Picks & Pans Stock Screeners Free S&P Stock Report SCOREBOARDS Hot Growth 100 Mutual Funds Info Tech 100 S&P 500 B-SCHOOLS Undergrad Programs MBA Blogs MBA Profiles MBA Rankings Who's Hiring Grads |  |
JUNE 4, 2007
By Robert Parker Where To Place Your 2006 Bordeaux Bets Futures season, the opportunity to buy wine that is still in barrels and won't be released for a couple of years, is just getting under way for the 2006 Bordeaux vintage. People often buy futures from wine merchants to avoid paying higher prices later, but I wouldn't load up on 2006 futures, as the vintage is good but not great. Prices could be lower by the time the wine is released. Still, some might want to lock up a case or two if 2006 marks some special occasion, such as a big anniversary or the birth of a child. Here are some wines that are good values if you can buy their futures for less than $45 a bottle. Since these ratings are for wines still in the barrel, I use a range instead of a specific score. Branaire-Ducru 92-94 points. A deep ruby/purple hue precedes a perfumed nose of sweet boysenberries, black cherries, minerals, spring flowers, and a hint of pain grillé. Fresh, savory, medium- to full-bodied flavors coat the palate with beautiful purity, ripe tannin, and intense fruit. From the St.-Julien appellation, this offering will be at its peak between 2012 and 2025. Malescot St.-Exupéry 92-94 points. This Margaux possesses sweet cherry and cassis notes intermixed with spring flowers, underbrush, and licorice. Medium-bodied and beautifully concentrated with soft acids as well as sweet tannin, the overall impression is one of opulence. Anticipated maturity: 2010-2025. Haut-Bailly 91-94 points. This Pessac-Léognan boasts a dark ruby color along with a bouquet of charcoal embers with sweet black cherry and black currant fruit. It has subtle oak, medium body, and a gorgeous texture. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2030. Duhart-Milon 91-93 points. This blend of 70% cabernet sauvignon and 30% merlot exhibits notes of crème de cassis, pain grillé, and black cherries and undertones of loamy earth, herbs, and spice. Copious richness and up-front fruit along with good freshness and liveliness suggest this Pauillac will be at its best between 2012 and 2025. Fleur Cardinale 91-93 points. The 2006 is a blend of 75% merlot, 15% cabernet franc, and 10% cabernet sauvignon. Its deep ruby/purple color is followed by a flowery nose offering notes of black fruits, crushed rocks, and spicy oak. Medium- to full-bodied, elegant, pure, and precise, this stunner from St.-Emilion falls just short of rivaling the fabulous 2005. It should drink well for 10 to 15 years. Monbousquet 91-93 points. A blend of 70% merlot, 20% cabernet franc, and 10% cabernet sauvignon, the 2006 is an elegant effort with hints of blueberries, raspberries, cherries, pain grillé, espresso, and smoke. Sweet tannin, medium- to full-bodied deep flavors, and superb purity are found in this overachieving St.-Emilion. It should drink well for 15 or more years. Smith-Haut-Lafitte 91-93 points. The beautiful 2006 exhibits aromas and flavors of earth, graphite, sweet cassis, cherries, smoke, and spice. Medium-bodied with admirable concentration, soft tannin, and impressive purity, texture, and length, this Pessac-Léognan wine should mature between 2012 and 2025. Clos de L'Oratoire 90-93 points. A sleeper of the vintage, the Clos de L'Oratoire reveals notes of smoked meats, blueberries, raspberries, cedar, and spicy oak. Opulent, fleshy, and rich, this well proportioned St.-Emilion is ideal during its first 12 to 15 years. Wines rated from 96-100 are extraordinary; 90-95, excellent; 80-89, above average to very good.  Robert Parker is the world's most influential wine critic. Visit www.eRobertParker.com to see tens of thousands of tasting notes, buy his books, or subscribe to his newsletter, The Wine Advocate.
BW MALL
SPONSORED LINKS
Get BusinessWeek directly on your desktop with our RSS feeds.
Buy a link now! Add BusinessWeek news to your Web site with our headline feed. Click to buy an e-print or reprint of a BusinessWeek or BusinessWeek Online story or video. To subscribe online to BusinessWeek magazine, please click here. Learn more, go to the BusinessWeekOnline home page  | | |
 Copyright 2007, by The McGraw-Hill Companies Inc. All rights reserved.Terms of Use | Privacy Notice |
Printer-Friendly Version