La Goulee 2006

This wine was tasted in last year's KCCWS/HKWS Joint Chrismas Party. I had tasted a number of offerings from Cos d'Estournel before, but this was the first time I had tried La Goulee. A wine from Medoc rather than St Estephe, it is also supposed to be more fruity and New World in style. There were unusual weather conditions in 2006, which could be exploited to advantage by vineyard management and green harvesting, which resulted in a good harvest of ripe small berries. The fruit underwent pre-fermentation maceration, yielding dark, well extracted juice with excellent body. The wine was aged in 50% new barriques over fine lees until first racking. Deep ruby in colour, sweet fruit with acid was amply evident on both nose and palate with a nice backbone giving support.