En Primeur Bordeaux 2012

The elegant, softer-styled 2012 Bon Pasteur is reminiscent of the 1999 and, if it puts on some weight, the outstanding 2001. The 2012 exhibits hints of mocha, cherry liqueur, damp earth and berry fruit. Medium-bodied, round and seductive with soft tannins, this attractive, lighter-weight effort should drink well for 10-15 years.

Score: 89 - 92 Robert Parker, Wine Advocate Maturity: 2013-2028

A ripe, toasted and well-spiced style, with cinnamon and anise notes wrapping the core of raspberry pâte de fruit and plum sauce. A twinge of plum skin shows on the finish, delivering lightly dusty tannins and good polish overall.

Score: 88 - 91 James Molesworth, Wine Spectator

This is a seamless 2012 with fine tannins and plenty of subtle fruit. Outstanding length. Well done.

Score: 92 - 93 James Suckling, Jamessuckling.com

Lively pure cassis fruit, a little malty from the oak. Tough on the palate, without a deep enough layer of fruit for the drying tannins.

Score: 15 - 16 Julia Harding MW, Jancisrobinson.com Maturity: 2016-2022

Round and easygoing with sweet tannin and early accessibility, the precociously formed 2012 Certan de May exhibits notes of bay leaves, black currants, black cherries and underbrush. Ripe and medium-bodied, it is made somewhat in the style of Latour a Pomerol, but slightly more herbaceous. I liked it for its depth, richness and early drinkability. Consume it over the next 10-12+ years.

Score: 89 - 92 Robert Parker, Wine Advocate Maturity: 2013-2025

This has lovely singed vanilla, black tea and sandalwood aromas mingling together, with subtle plum sauce, steeped cherry and red currant fruit hanging in reserve. Graceful and perfumy overall, but with solid latent depth on the finish. Should expand a bit more during the élevage. Tasted non-blind.

Score: 90 - 93 James Molesworth, Wine Spectator

An attractive sample with lovely floral and berry character. Citrus acidity. Medium-to-full body. The wine builds on the palate with very polished tannins. Delicately fruity with pretty depth.

Score: 91 - 92 James Suckling, Jamessuckling.com

Vineyard opposite Vieux Château Certan. Greyish dark crimson. Lightly spiced dark fruit, savoury on the nose then sweeter on the palate. Very smooth almost chalky tannins and a hint of stony flavour. Lightish and soft in the middle. Almost too gentle. Too many edges taken off? Too polished?

Score: 16 Julia Harding MW, Jancisrobinson.com Maturity: 2015-2020

Although hardly comparable to what Clinet achieved in both 2009 and 2010, the 2012 Clinet is another star of the vintage. A powerful, full-bodied, muscular Pomerol, it reveals a dense purple color in addition to lots of opulence, a layered, full-bodied richness (somewhat atypical for the vintage), beautiful density and plenty of mocha, black cherry, truffle and graphite notes. It is a surprisingly full yet accessible Clinet that will be drinkable long before the 2009 and 2010 hit their plateaus of maturity. Drink the 2012 over the next 15 years. (92-94+ Points)

Score: 92 - 94 Robert Parker, Wine Advocate Maturity: 2013-2028

Features a thick, ripe feel, with plum sauce and blackberry paste notes that drip slowly as licorice snap and roasted apple wood fill in the finish. A more overtly hedonistic style of Pomerol, retaining good balance.

Score: 91 - 94 James Molesworth, Wine Spectator

Inky with black core. Very ripe damsons and something meaty. Leaner on the palate than I expected and slightly hard. Dry, fine grained but a little flat at the end.

Score: 15 - 16 Julia Harding MW, Jancisrobinson.com Maturity: 2016-2022

This is racy and austere but in a very good sense. It’s full-bodied, and very integrated with orange peel and a juicy, salty finish.

Score: 90 - 91 James Suckling, Jamessuckling.com

The 2012 possesses a creamy texture along with a big, sweet bouquet of mulberry and black cherry fruit judiciously touched by smoky oak, graphite and forest floor notes. Round and generously endowed with a dense plum/purple color, fragrant aromatics, a medium to full-bodied mouthfeel, and silky tannins, it should age effortlessly for 12-15 years.

Score: 91 - 94 Robert Parker, Wine Advocate Maturity: 2013-2028

Offers a fleshy, dark, licorice-framed core of plum paste and blackberry pâte de fruit, supported by dense grip and a long echo of fruitcake on the finish. Recalls '09 with the intense, fleshy fruit.

Score: 92 - 95 James Molesworth, Wine Spectator

Wow. This is really gorgeous and sexy with super integrated tannins, juicy rich fruit and a bright acidity. It gives an impression of being seamless on the palate.

Score: 93 - 94 James Suckling, Jamessuckling.com

Deep dark cherry. Dusty black fruit. Just ripe in fruit, tannins dryish but not tough. OK.

Score: 15 - 16 Julia Harding MW, Jancisrobinson.com Maturity: 2016-2021

The 2012 La Conseillante exhibits a dark ruby/purple color as well as a beautiful, up-front, projected fragrance that includes mulberry and raspberry jam, licorice, lavender and underbrush. Rich and medium-bodied, this attractive effort possesses the estate’s hallmark elegance, finesse and sweet, velvety tannins. It should be approachable in its youth and last for 15+ years.

Score: 92 - 94 Robert Parker, Wine Advocate Maturity: 2013-2028

Rounded and juicy, with lovely boysenberry and linzer torte flavors coursing along, inlaid with bergamot and blood orange notes. Delivers a polished finish without exhibiting any of the vintage’s sinewy feel. Rock solid and beautifully rendered. A strong showing.

Score: 92 - 95 James Molesworth, Wine Spectator

This is really intense from the start to finish. This is a gorgeous wine. Full body, with very integrated tannins and a beautiful finish. Iron, chocolate, hazelnut and red fruits. Very, very polished. 89% Merlot and 11% Cabernet Franc.

Score: 92 - 93 James Suckling, Jamessuckling.com

New cellar with smaller, epoxy-line concrete tanks (35-70 hl), allowing more precise handling of smaller parcels, eg last year they had one vat of Cabernet Franc and this year four. Same architect and project manager as Petrus. Yield 38.5 hl/ha (as Le Pin) so they could be selective. 11% Cabernet Franc, 89% Merlot. Cabernet Franc was 'flat' but not unripe. Merlot was better this year. 100% Merlot was luscious and fat and needed a bit of Cabernet Franc. pH 3.67. 70% new oak. Deep dark crimson. Refined dark fruit - blackcurrant pastilles and a touch cedary. Very precise and fresh and has a nice tightness about it without being highly strung. Even with that refinement it has rich, velvety depth in the middle. Long without evident power. Cool and fluid on the finish.

Score: 17 Julia Harding MW, Jancisrobinson.com Maturity: 2019-2030