The deliciously sexy, seductive 2006 Chateauneuf du Pape is cut from the same mold, only it shows a lot more garrigue, pepper, and herbs, while still retaining that attractive, delicious, pure fruit. It does not have quite the weight and stature of the 2007, but it is a well-made, pure, and focused wine to drink in its first 8-9 years of life.Fair prices and exuberant fruit make it easy for Domaine Lafond’s wines to attract fans. Whether it be their exquisite Tavel rose, their delicious Cotes du Rhones, or their most ambitious wines, the Chateauneuf du Papes, all are noteworthy efforts. These are wines best drunk in their flamboyant youth, and in the case of the Chateauneuf du Papes, in their first decade.Importer: Alain Junguenet, Wines of France, Mountainside, NJ; tel. (908) 654-6173

A slightly lightweight vintage, with plenty of anise and spice and a pretty mix of red and black fruit. It’s a little tannic now, but it’s not destined for long aging; drink from 2011–2015.——J.C.(12/15/2009)—— 90