A very ripe nose of honeysuckle and citrus blossom is trimmed in a very discreet touch of brioche that precedes rich, full, intense and less elegant flavors than I'm used to seeing but there is ample volume, dry extract and mid-palate fat that culminate in a better balanced and longer finish.

The 2006 Bienvenues is a tad riper than the Pucelles, and this tends to take away a bit of the inherent elegance of this great vineyard. The complex and classy bouquet delivers a blend of pear, lemon, sweet corn, chalk, bee pollen and vanillin oak. On the palate the wine is full-bodied, ripe and quite buxom for young Bienvenues, with good focus, length and complexity, but shows a bit of headiness on the long finish. Not a bad drink for near-term, but this is quite 2006 in profile.