An alluring nose of ripe cherry, nutmeg, star anise, and smoked meat on the Forey 2006 Echezeaux segues into a palate of seductively liqueur-like and mouth-coating richness not lacking a bright edge of fresh fruit, and with complimentary hints of dark chocolate, resin, and cherry stone bitterness. This exhibits uncommon ripeness and plushness for the vintage, yet with an immediate and irresistible sensual appeal you'll seldom if ever encounter in any 2005. Enjoy it now, or enjoy it 8-10 years from now; I'd be surprised if it goes through an ornery or reclusive period. This comes from the eastern side of the appellation, specifically the vineyard Les Treux and the adjacent sliver along the edge of Les Suchots that is called Clos St. Denis. Regis Forey insists that only negligible triage was necessary on his 2006 crop, and in addition to the advantages of lees contact conferred by protracted and relatively late malolactic transformation, he also did some active stirring to fatten the young wines. Finished alcohol levels in this collection vary between what appear on the basis of taste to be an ideal 12.5%-13.5%, and with the exception of an uncooperative portion of his village Vosne-Romanee, none of these wines was filtered. Importer: Rosenthal Wine Merchant, Pine Plains, NY; tel. (800) 910-1990