Early in the growing season, 2006 seemed to many a year that could equal or excel the widely heralded 2005 that preceded it. Sadly, this was not to be the case.
A cool, wet August interrupted the stellar progress of the season up to that point, and rain during harvest put to rest hopes of glory. And yet, despite discouraging news from the vineyards at harvest, the wines in barrel and then in bottle offered promise, and a recent retrospective showed numerous wines that have stood the test of time.
I tasted through 24 of them in the spring of 2025 to find out what had become of this sometimes-overlooked vintage.
Charles’s pick of 2006 Bordeaux listed below
{"content":"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"}
Charles Curtis MW’s pick of 2006 Bordeaux
{}
{"wineId":"19348","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"19354","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"19356","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"2301","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"19361","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"19351","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"19124","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"100755","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"19370","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"100750","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"100752","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"100753","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"100756","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"100758","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"100757","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"19376","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"33128","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"19347","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"19359","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"38887","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"100754","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"100759","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"19374","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"19364","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{}
Related articles
