A Serious Glimpse Of The 2012 Bordeaux Vintage

Peter arranged this great tasting and I was lucky to get a seat at the table.
Tasted double blind.

2012 Château Poujeaux
A fine, cool cassis nose with additional notes of dried blueberries, wet earth and hint of coffee. On the light side of things. Good.
The taste is cool and seedy with notes of red and black currants, bakelite and gravel. There is a hint of grass in the middle taste. Good, but a bit uncomplicated.
84p   (tasted 2015/06)

2012 Château L´Arrosée
A deep, earthy, warm nose with notes of ripe plums, black currant jam, sweet tobacco and fir forest scents. Very, very good.
A finely tuned, refined taste with notes of black currants, warm tiles, earth and tobacco. A long finish with a fine warmth. This is good. Obviously the last vintage of this fine old Château, the 1964 was a treat to drink a few months ago.
90p   (tasted 2015/06)

2012 Château d´Issan
A fine, rather discreet nose with notes of cigarette ashes, barely ripe black currants and some charcoal. Opens up a bit with air but remains restrained.
The taste is tight and withdrawn with notes of black currants, moist earth, plywood and coffee. A medium long finish with a hint of bitterness. This is either in an awkward stage or its lacks the stuffing for a good evolution.
82p   (tasted 2015/06)

2012 Château Lafon-Rochet
The Lafon-Rochet displays a very classic young Bordeaux nose, with notes of ripe black currants, blueberry bushes, lead pencil shavings and some ink. Very, very good.
The taste is young, tight and seedy with notes of black currants, sugared coffee, tobacco and forest floor. The finish is long and structured. This is really fine. Should develop well.
92p   (tasted 2015/06)

2012 Château Grand-Puy-Lacoste
This is a winner with its lovely nose of ripe black currants, sandalwood, expensive tobacco and new leather. Deep and refined. Very, very good.
The taste is structured and racy with notes of tobacco leaves, black currants, leather and bakelite. Very long and focused. This will need 6+ years in the cellar to really unfold. Great quality.
94p   (tasted 2015/06)

2012 Château Canon-la-Gaffelière
A big, juicy nose oozes up from the glass, with notes of spicy black currants, blueberry jam, scorched earth and liquorice. Feels a bit New World in its opulence. Deep though. Good fruit.
The taste follows the nose with lots of sweet black fruits and additional notes of graphite, sweet tobacco and moist earth. Long and warm. There is a bunch of tannins behind the sweet fruit. Could evolve more typical distinction with time.
89p   (tasted 2015/06)

2012 Château Clinet
My shared number one (with the Leoville-Poyferré below) in this line up was this gorgeous Pomerol. The nose is a dream with notes of plums, warm flowers, expensive leather, cedar and tobacco. Velvety and refined. This is a stunner.
The taste is tighter and more structured than the nose leads you to believe, with notes of plums, graphite, sandalwood, red currants and tobacco. The finish is long and balanced. Lovely. Give this 5+ years and you will have a beauty in the glass.
95p   (tasted 2015/06)

2012 Château Troplong-Mondot
A fine, deep, clean nose with notes of blueberries, plums, pine wood, graphite and ink. Dark and broad. Very, very good.
The taste is young, tight and structured with notes of black currants, plums, graphite, earth and ink. Lots of warm earth. Long and fine. This will turn out great, just give it 6+ years.
92p   (tasted 2015/06)

2012 Château Haut-Bailly
A deep, cool nose with notes of just ripening red and black currants, graphite, warm tiles and warm grass. A lovely laid back character. Very, very good.
The taste is tight and racy with notes of cool black currants, dry plums, tobacco and coffee powder. A long, classy finish. A lovely wine to drink in 3+ years time.
92p   (tasted 2015/06)

2012 Château Leoville-Poyferré
A very deep, focused, beautiful nose with notes of ripe black currants, warm flowers, cedar, cold coffee and forest floor. A tiny touch of mint. Just great.
The taste is very intense and concentrated with notes of chocolate covered black currants, lead pencil shavings, plums and tobacco. The finish goes on for over a minute and in the end the perfectly polished tannins are noticeable. A very fine wine indeed.
95p   (tasted 2015/06)