En Primeur Bordeaux 2012

The 2012 reveals an opaque ruby/purple color along with sweet tannins, low acidity, medium to full body, and abundant cedary, foresty notes intermixed with black cherries, black currants, caramel and spice box. This medium to full-bodied St.-Estephe should drink well in 4-5 years (atypical for a Calon Segur), and last for two decades. Calon Segur has one of the top dozen terroirs in all of Bordeaux, so I’m waiting to see how spectacular it can become under its new ownership. Certainly the team brought in to push the quality is the right one. I don’t know what the final blend of the relatively soft 2012 was, but I suspect it includes a copious percentage of Merlot, although Cabernet Sauvignon has dominated over recent years.

Score: 90 - 92 , Wine Advocate Maturity: 2017-2037

Lively and some richness. Dry finish. But great vitality. Long and complete with no concessions to the vintage. Not as dense as Montrose. (17+ Points)

Score: - , Jancisrobinson.com Maturity: 2020-2035

Super fresh and floral with raspberry, currant and berry character. Full body, with fine tannins and a long, long finish. Bright and racy. 78% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot, and 2% Petit Verdot.

Score: 92 - 93 , Jamessuckling.com

It has a saturated purple color, a classic style, abundant tannin, slight austerity, superb concentration, huge fruit, a medium to full-bodied mouthfeel, and a structured, muscular, well-delineated finish. This impressive, full-bodied Cos will need time to round into shape. Give it 4-5 years of cellaring and drink it over the following two decades.

Score: 92 - 95 , Wine Advocate Maturity: 2017-2037

Very dark and purple. Very interesting, almost putty nose. Intriguing and not so flamboyant and flashy as in some years. Really rather like Lafite 2012 on the nose! Perhaps a little tiny bit bitter on the finish but no excess of sweetness nor alcohol. Very measured. Solid impact. Very dry finish. I absolutely love the nose but find it a bit austere on the finish .. But at least it is classic St-Estèphe. Slightly hard work at this stage; the most youthful wine I have tasted so far. '100% gravity-fed cellar helped us to be restrained in extraction', explained the new director Aymeric de Gironde.

Score: 17 - 18 , Jancisrobinson.com Maturity: 2025-2040

This is very tannic -- perhaps slightly too much -- but shows very pretty, intense fruit with blueberry and mineral character. Full and dense. Mineral and dried spices such as cloves under it all. Very muscular.

Score: 92 - 93 , Jamessuckling.com

Luscious and rather sumptuous. Dry finish. Lots of excitement and structure. Fresh mineral notes.

Score: 17 , Jancisrobinson.com Maturity: 2020-2035

A very good core of fruit in this barrel sample with mineral and currant character. Full body with integrated tannins and a long finish. Very well done for the vintage.

Score: 89 - 90 , Jamessuckling.com

The opaque purple-hued 2012 Lafon Rochet reveals plenty of incense, blueberry, black raspberry and spring flower notes intermixed with a hint of forest floor. Rich and medium to full-bodied, it is a complete wine from beginning to end. It may tighten up once it’s in bottle, but this wine has 15 or more years of cellaring potential.

Score: 90 - 92 , Wine Advocate

Very dark. Warm, cosy nose is very flatteringly ripe. But it lacks real savour and structure. Loose finish.

Score: 16 , Jancisrobinson.com Maturity: 2018-2026

Features plum and black cherry fruit, with a rather soft-edged feel, showing hints of licorice and spice on the finish. A bit too easy in the end.

Score: 85 - 88 , Wine Spectator

This shows a seamless fruit and tannin structure. Very well done for the vintage. Full body yet tight and reserved.

Score: 90 - 91 , Jamessuckling.com

The inky/purple-colored 2012 offers up scents of white chocolate, crème de cassis, acacia flowers, crushed rocks and forest floor. The tannins are surprisingly soft as the pH is about 3.7, which is slightly higher than the 2010's 3.6. This dense, full-bodied wine is still somewhat monolithic, but it is loaded with concentration and power as well as a long finish. While not totally formed, all the component parts are present. The 2012 will not match the level of the 2009 and 2010, but it should stand out as one of the highlights of 2012.

Score: 92 - 94 , Wine Advocate

Bright deep crimson. Exciting, 'pointed', rather sharply etched impact on the nose. Almost shrill but with great density and definition. Very vibrato! A long-distance runner like Cos d'Estournel. (17.5+ Points)

Score: 17 - 18 , Jancisrobinson.com Maturity: 2022-2040

Delivers a solid core of black cherry and tobacco leaf, with a briary backdrop on the finish. A bit chewy overall, but this maintains good intensity and a mouthwatering chalky edge. Backward, displaying fine length.

Score: 90 - 93 , Wine Spectator

This shows a lovely finish with ultra-fine tannins and pretty fruit. Refined and long. Plenty of ripe and clean fruit. Tangy and fresh. Shows careful viticulture and winemaking.

Score: 93 - 94 , Jamessuckling.com