It is always amazing how Michel and Dany Rolland coax so much character and quality from this vineyard, which is on one of the least impressive terroirs of Pomerol. Moreover, it ages well, as evidenced by the 1982, which is still a remarkable wine and one of the great Bon Pasteurs ever made. The 2006 displays wild berry fruit intermixed with mocha, espresso roast, and sweet black cherries and black currants. The wine is medium-bodied, pure, has some light to moderate tannin in the finish, but is long, savory, and already showing complexity and a sensual appeal. I could drink this now, but I suspect most readers would probably prefer to wait a few years and drink it over the following 12-15 years.

Plum and blackberry aromas, with a hint of vanilla, follow through to a full-bodied palate, with soft tannins and a vanilla, chocolate and coffee undertone. Silky-textured and pretty, with a lovely center palate. Well-made for the vintage. Best after 2014. 2,080 cases made. -JS