Domaine Emmanuel Rouget   Vosne Romanee Cros Parantoux

2006 Vosne Romanee Cros Parantoux

By Domaine Emmanuel Rouget

2006 Vosne-Romanée Cros Parantoux from Domaine Emmanuel Rouget, Burgundy, France

Creating an intricate mosaic of fine Burgundian craftsmanship, the 2006 Vosne-Romanée Cros Parantoux from Domaine Emmanuel Rouget is a symphony of complexity that harmoniously sings the praises of its esteemed terroir.

 

Pedigree and Poise: A Burgundy Treasure

In the echelons of wine investment, certain vintages rise to prominence through a combination of pedigree and exemplary winemaking. The 2006 vintage from Domaine Emmanuel Rouget's lauded plot in Vosne-Romanée is just such a specimen. As with grand cru vines, the diminutive Cros Parantoux parcel yields a profoundly sincere expression of pinot noir.

 

An Exquisite Vintage Year

The year 2006 was graced with favourable climatic conditions in Burgundy, yielding wines with admirable balance and depth. The 2006 Vosne-Romanée Cros Parantoux elegantly portrays this equilibrium, unfurling layers of ripe red fruits, delicate spices, and an ethereal earthiness that lovers of finest Burgundy cherish. Its poised acidity and refined tannins speak volumes about the skilled vinification, an ode to finesse over power.

The meticulous cultivation and reverence for terroir at Domaine Emmanuel Rouget translates into a wine of superior distinction. A decade and more in the bottle have allowed the subtle nuances to emerge. The mature palate reveals hints of black cherry compote and truffle, all underpinned by a lingering minerality that invites one to contemplate the sheer intricacy within each sip.

Uncorking the 2006 Vosne-Romanée Cros Parantoux now would unveil its exquisite journey thus far, yet it also promises further potential for ageing gracefully should one's cellar afford the luxury of time.

The allure of this wine for investors lies not only in its compelling taste profile but also in its rarity and prestigious lineage. As collectors vie for wines that showcase both elegance and storied provenance, the 2006 Vosne-Romanée Cros Parantoux from Domaine Emmanuel Rouget emerges as an unmistakably wise addition to any discerning portfolio.

In summarising exclusivity, elegance, and investment-worthy sophistication, the 2006 Vosne-Romanée Cros Parantoux encapsulates the desirable traits for collectors seeking to enhance their assortment with an outstanding Burgundian vintage. It bears the hallmark of Domaine Emmanuel Rouget's exceptional craft - a delight for both the palate and the portfolio.

Current market price

$39,320.00

12x75cl

Highest score

95

POP score

1575.33

Scores and tasting notes

95-96

Rouget alludes to the aromas of his 2006 Vosne-Romanee Cros Parantoux as "tres particulaire," and you can say that again! Cassis, black raspberry, licorice, musk, toasted pistachio, ginger, and white pepper amaze the nose, followed by an implosive palate concentration that incorporates stony, chalky, and somehow ore-like mineral essences. The sense of sappy cling and invigorating, vibratory impingement of spice and mineral matter here left both my salivary and adrenal glands pumping. This fissionable vinous material should be cellared for at least half a dozen years and then vigilantly followed for at least a further 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

Vintage performance