A blend of 65% Grenache and 35% Syrah from 60 year old vines the 2006 Domaine de Mourchon Côtes du Rhône Villages Séguret Grande Réserve has 40% of the blend aged in oak barrels. Despite the similar elevage to the '07 this is distinctly different and is much more dark and dense with black cherry road tar licorice and toasted spice and wood notes. There's solid depth and richness and I expect that the bouquet will gain complexity and interest with another year or two in the cellar. Clearly outstanding on the palate the wine is medium+ bodied with a solid quality texture ripe fruit and a compact dense personality that carries into the finish. Give this another couple of years in the cellar and then drink over the following 5 to 8. 91+

The 2006 Grande Reserve tastes more like a great Chateauneuf du Pape than a Cotes du Rhone-Villages Seguret. There is plenty of tannin earth garrigue spice box and pepper characteristics as well as oodles of black cherry and black currant fruit. This beautifully complex wine with tremendously expressive aromatics cuts a broad full-bodied mouthfeel but do not think it can't age as it possesses plenty of structure and tannin. It should hit its stride in two years and last for a decade thereafter. One of the reference point estates in the southern Cotes du Rhone Domaine de Mourchon is situated in the charmingly beautiful Provencal hill top village of Seguret. This is a tour de force in winemaking from the Cotes du Rhone-Villages of Seguret. Kudos to Domaine de Mourchon! These splendid cuvees are all worth buying by the caseload.

Very dark showing fig and currant paste notes but very racy with graphite freshly drawn espresso bittersweet cocoa and black tea notes helping to extend the long alluring finish. Nice underlying grip. Drink now through 2011. 3000 cases made. -JM