2006 Domaine de Montille, Pommard Premier Cru, Les Rugiens 1x750ml

Robert Parker 90-91

The de Montille 2006 Pommard Les Rugiens – which I last tasted just before its bottling – displays site-typical rich meatiness and smoky, "ferrous" character, with abundant but reasonably fine-grained tannins and formidable grip. Dark berries and burley tobacco, peat and iodine give this a metaphorically very dark hue. It has plenty of structure, but less vivacity than the corresponding Taillepieds, and it will be interesting to see whether in the long run this proves to have more tannin that it needs to get where it’s going over the next decade. I would in any event grant it a 3-4 year head start. [David Schildknecht, 01/12/2009]

Anticipated maturity: 2009-2013

Vinous 91

(50% vendange entier; this and the Taillepieds were bottled in May of 2008) Bright, full red. Highly nuanced nose combines redcurrant, tobacco, iron and flint. Quite ripe and rich, with a liqueur-like candied cherry flavor dominating today. Offers the best palate coverage of these wines to this point, finishing with suave but serious tannins and excellent length. This really calls for four or five years of cellaring. Excellent for the vintage. [Stephen Tanzer, 03/01/2009]