Château Beauregard, 2006 Pomerol.

Vineyard and Harvest: Château Beauregard owns 17.5 hectares (about 43 acres) of vines, with 70% Merlot and 30% Cabernet Franc. The vines have an average age of 35 years and are planted on magnificent clay-gravel soils and in some areas on slightly sandy soil.

The grapes are picked solely by hand and are collected in small 30kg crates, allowing greater care to be taken In the handling of the berries. After being sotted on a stainless steel soiling table to discard any unwanted vegetation and unripe or rotten berries, the crop is totally dc-stemmed, lightly crushed and sent into vats.

Vinification and Ageing: Château Beauregard owns 17.5 hectares (about 43 acres) of vines, with 70% Merlot and 30% Cabernet Franc. The vines have an average age of 35 years and are planted on magnificent clay-gravel soils and in some areas on slightly sandy soil.

The skins are placed in a pneumatic press for pressing. This type of press enables the estate to obtain a tine quality press wine, which after being aged six months separately, is added in variable proportions (3 to 8%) to the first wine. After a total of 16 to 24 months of ageing in barrels, which are supplied by 5 or 6 different coopers, the wines are fined with natural egg whites and bottled without being filtered.

Tasting Note: Bright, deep red colour with purple glints. An expressive, complex nose of red berry fruit and liquorice with notes of menthol and mocha. Lively entry on the palate with fruit to the fore, a silky mouth-feel with lots of tannins coming - through. Perfectly ripe. The sensation of freshness is always very perceptible together with elegant and quite discreet oak.

Quite a long finish full of softness and great pedigree.