The 2006 vintage of Castel’s Grand Vin is wonderfully concentrated and incredibly vibrant. Unlike other vintages of this wine, the signature heavy-handed oak steps into the shadows to leave room in the spotlight for the wine’s other characteristics. In the glass, this wine is dark garnet and nearly opaque with wafting aromas of ripe concentrated plum. The attack is shrouded in sweet plum and blackberry, transitioning on the mid-palate to cassis with pockets of licorice, spice, and citrus that capture your attention. And, in the background looms a layer of toasted oak that is thick enough to taste but thin enough to be balanced by the wine’s fruit. Like Grand Vin’s of the past, the wine’s body has an elegant presence, but this vintage sports brighter acidity, a fuller mouthfeel and even a bit of muscle. It is arguably the best Grand Vin from Castel to date and one with the greatest aging potential. Enjoy it now and for the next 3-4 years. L’Chaim!

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