Haut Marbuzet 2006

Tasted blind at Farr Vintners' horizontal, the 2006 Haut Marbuzet has a perfumed bouquet with redcurrant and cranberry scents, slightly savoury and meaty. The palate is balanced but needs more depth. Laden with abundant and quite plump, ferrous red fruit, it then cuts away too rapidly on the finish, although the Moroccan spices loitering around on the aftertaste give some pleasure. Drink now and over the next 5-8 years.

Briefly classified as one of the nine Cru Bourgeois Exceptionnel before the demise of the classification.
Rich toasty cassis, and fresh cassis, quite aromatic. Reasonably elegant but a bit lightweight or lacking fruit in the middle. Second bottle tasted was much richer and fuller, which upped the score from my original 16.

Medium red-ruby. Raspberry, mocha and smoky oak on the nose. Juicy, spicy and penetrating, with good energy and cut to the flavors of red berries, musky coffee and mocha, minerals and peppery herbs. On the lean side, finishing with slightly dry tannins and good verve.

Good bright red-ruby. Aromas of black raspberry, coffee, minerals and sexy oak. Dense and spicy, with a slightly exotic cast but good firm acid spine. Suave, lively wine that finishes with substantial dusty tannins, a light peppery quality and very good aromatic lift and sweetness.