2006 Echezeaux
By Domaine Emmanuel Rouget
2006 Echezeaux from Domaine Emmanuel Rouget, Burgundy, France
The 2006 vintage from the venerated slopes of Burgundy’s Echezeaux presents an intriguing study in the melding of tradition and individuality unique to the year. Domaine Emmanuel Rouget, custodian of a sliver of these exalted terroirs, has with careful nurturing and unremitting exactitude drawn from its vines a vintage that whispers its story with eloquence.
Noteworthy Climatic Temperance
The 2006 year in Burgundy was one marked by climatic generosity. Vim and vigour in the early season slowed to deliberate deliberation as summer emerged gently rather than with severity. This climatic temperance bestowed upon Echezeaux a grace in maturation; berries swelled with measured poise. The effect on the 2006 Echezeaux is a complexity and depth which allows the wine to stand as an exemplar of its kind, showcasing ripe fruit alongside an earthy suppleness, its vitality undiminished after years in repose.
Pedigree Meets Precision: A Singular Expression
In the glass, the 2006 Echezeaux from Domaine Emmanuel Rouget unfurls layers of aromatics: dark cherry intermingled with whispers of violet and forest floor—a perfumed prelude to a symphony of balance within. The entrance is assertive without brashness; supple tannins escorting a core of precise fruitiness through to a finish long and whispering of refinement—the hallmark of an investment-worthy Echezeaux.
On the palate, this offering maintains assertive acidity that ensures its presence is felt without overshadowing the wine’s inherent sophistication. The orchestration between structure, alcohol, and fruit bespeaks an assured hand at the tiller during this wine’s creation.
As one wades deeper into the charm of this remarkable vintage, it stands as an affirmative nod to wine enthusiasts keen on collecting or investing in a wine that proffers both immediate gratification and potential for longevity. Most pertinently for quality-driven investors, the narrative and substance behind the 2006 Echezeaux present an opportunity not just for enjoyment, but for contemplation on the investment-rich soils of Burgundy's premium viticultural heritage.
In summation, this offering represents a vinous testament to the rewards that can be garnered from nuanced understanding—both in its crafting and its enjoyment. The 2006 Echezeaux from Domaine Emmanuel Rouget remains imbued with a character distinct to its vintage—a compelling addition to any discerning investor's compendium.Current market price
$19,920.00
12x75cl
Highest score
93
POP score
920.77
Scores and tasting notes
A sweet, spicy profusion of cinnamon, ginger, cocoa powder, lily perfume, maraschino, and kirsch soars from the glass of Rouget 2006 Echezeaux, which comes to the palate with unexpected depth and richness of roasted meats, chalk, and saline savor, though to be sure, the bright red fruits and spices never flag. This is positively vibratory as well as riveting in its dynamic, oscillating finishing complexity. I'd give it 3-4 years head start and then plan to follow it for another decade. Emmanuel Rouget was very pleased with the "unusually long evolution" of his youthful 2006s – which I last tasted on the eve of bottling – rendered possible not just by the frigid temperature of his relatively shallow cellars, he explained, but also by what for this vintage are impressively low pHs. Even after slight chaptalization, he says the present collection scarcely exceeds 13% alcohol. These factors no doubt help account for the balance of ripe flavors and textural polish with cut and vivacity that the 2006s here display, rendering them – as Rouget puts it – "more precise, fresh, and elegant" than his 2005s, in which respect they remind him of his 1996s. "If you compare them directly today, my 2005s almost taste heavy by comparison with these 2006s," he notes. Moreover, my own impression is that the current crop of wines has proven more resistant to the same levels of new oak – 50-100% – as were used on his 2005s (whereas the 2004s received nada). "I think that impression is on account of the acidity," of the 2006s, opines Rouget, adding "for me the acidity of Pinot is more important than the alcohol. Importer: Martine’s Wines, Novato, CA; tel. (415) 883-0400
David Schildknecht - The Wine Advocate, 21 December 2009