One Of Our Favorite Wines: Enter 2006 Cuvèe Lehengoa
11/08/2008 -
The 2005 Cuvèe Lehengoa from Domaine Etxegaraya was a thrilling wine but pundits and politicos say that this wine is even better in 2006. Well they are right. It's about time they got something write.
The region this wine hails from is called Irouleguy and is one of the more important regions in Southwest France and Domaine Etxegaraya is one of the quality leaders. It is located in Basque country on the border of Spain which explains all the strange diction and x's. They love the letter x down there in Basque country. The soils are a mix of schist, limestone and red clay and the region gets much more sun than many other French wine regions. This wine is a blend of predominantly Tannat (the local grape down there) and small amounts of Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. Noted for its fierce tannic structure the 06 is one hedonistic delight. Not that the tannin structure is not there it, at this point, is hidden under all the forward dark fruit. Black plums, blackberries and black cherries just explode in your mouth while retaining its structural integrity. Lovely purity here. The vines are over 100 years old and are on their original rootstock which technically means they are pre-phylloexera vines which gives them an extra dash of purity. Other examples of pre-phylloxera wines to give you a reference on quality and price are Bollinger Vieilles Vigens Francaise, most of the Mosel vineyards, 19th Century Bordeaux and a handful of others. It is rare and many people say that pre-phylloxera wines taste better than their grafted counterparts. It is one of those arguments that will never die as it will be very hard to prove. But for a fraction of the price of 1819 Gruaud Larose (pre-phylloxera wine) you get a delicious pre-phylloxera taste for only $23.99. Now that is a deal if I have ever heard one. So sprint, don't run to Chambers Street Wine and grab some of this delicious unique wine. It will age glacially so don't be afraid to pick up a case.
