En Primeur Bordeaux 2012

The second wine, which has gone from strength to strength over recent years, the 2012 Alter Ego de Palmer, is a blend of 51% Merlot, 40% Cabernet Sauvignon and 9% Petit Verdot. Spicy and earthy, displaying notes of new saddle leather, roasted herbs and meaty barbecue, it is a medium-bodied, fleshy, attractive wine to drink over the next 10-12 years. Thomas Duroux produced a brilliant 2012 Palmer that is unquestionably one of the stars of the vintage. High levels of tannin were up there with their best vintages, at least analytically. The final blend of 48% Merlot, 46% Cabernet Sauvignon and 6% Petit Verdot results in a style of wine that is totally different than that of its nearby neighbors, Chateau Margaux, Rauzan-Segla and Malescot St.-Exupery.

Score: 88 - 90 Robert Parker, Wine Advocate Maturity: 2013-2025

18% press wine, pH 3.65. Quite strong leafy Cabernet aromas, but lovely freshness and round tannins. Is this like Palmer of old? I don’t think I would guess this was majority Merlot… Just slightly green on the end. 13.4%

Score: 17 Jancis Robinson MW, Jancisrobinson.com Maturity: 2019-2027

Offers notes of smoke, roasted herb and cassis bush, with solid plum fruit. Shows grace on the palate, delivering dark, silky fruit and caressing tannins lined with an iron edge. Tasted non-blind.

Score: 90 - 93 James Molesworth, Wine Spectator

This has incredible length for a second wine. Full body, with dark berry and raspberry character, ultra-fine tannins, and a long, long finish. Tiny grape yields for the vintage. 51% Merlot, 40% Cabernet Sauvignon and 9% Petit Verdot.

Score: 92 - 93 James Suckling, Jamessuckling.com

Owned by Hubert de Bouard, the 2012 Angelus was harvested between October 8-18, yields were 34 hectoliters per hectare, and the natural alcohol was over 14%. The final blend was 55% Merlot and 45% Cabernet Sauvignon. One of the superstars of the vintage, the dense opaque purple/blue-colored 2012 offers up notes of barbecue smoke, graphite, charcoal, blueberries, blackberries, sweet cherries and forest floor. With terrific fruit intensity, a powerful, layered, multidimensional mouthfeel and full body, it should be drinkable at an early age given the sweetness of the tannin. It should easily evolve for 15-20 years.

Score: 94 - 96 Robert Parker, Wine Advocate Maturity: 2013-2033

This is powerful and rich with lots of blackberries and cherries. Loads of richness and intensity. We will see but shows loads of potential. Intense.

Score: 93 - 94 James Suckling, Jamessuckling.com

Inky with black core. Sweet charred oak is the first impression. And the second. But there is finesse to the tannins and some nice (hidden) dark fruit. Firm grip on the finish and just about fresh, though it is very hard to judge this wine now when the oak is all dominant. Tannin texture is very fine and I am sure this will become elegant if you can be patient enough and wait for the oak to subside. Too oaky for my taste but I know it will be admired by others.

Score: 17 - 18 Julia Harding MW, Jancisrobinson.com Maturity: 2022-2035

A stronger effort than its stablemate, Clerc-Milon, the 2012 d’Armailhac is an intriguing blend of 54% Cabernet Sauvignon, 29% Merlot, 14% Cabernet Franc and 3% Petit Verdot. Complex notes of menthol, coffee beans, black cherries and black currants are followed by a rich, medium-bodied wine with copious tannin as well as sufficient fat and flesh to cover the structure. The harvest took place during the first ten days of October, most of the grapes being brought in prior to the deluge that began on October 7 and lasted until October 9. This excellent Pauillac is a successful Medoc in this challenging vintage for this region.

Score: 89 - 91 Robert Parker, Wine Advocate

Heady and fragrant. No trace of underripeness on the nose but a slight lack of generosity on the palate. Peppery! (Unusual.) Dry and neat but not scrawny. Lots of complexity and pleasure with the bracing signature of the vintage only on the very end. This has some St-Estèphe minerally notes on the finish. An attractive whole with a cool, confident finish.

Score: 17 Jancis Robinson MW, Jancisrobinson.com Maturity: 2022-2037

Features a solid core of anise and plum, with a briary frame and light tobacco shading that should emerge with time. Shows good substance and weight. Tasted non-blind.

Score: 90 - 93 James Molesworth, Wine Spectator

This is a very attractive young wine. Medium-to-full body, with creamy tannins and a fresh finish. Refined for the vintage. 54% Cabernet Sauvignon, 29% Merlot, 14% Cabernet Franc, and 3% Petit Verdot.

Score: 90 - 91 James Suckling, Jamessuckling.com

The 2012 Ausone is another prodigious effort that should turn out to be one of the longest-lived wines of the vintage. It boasts a dense purple color along with abundant notes of mulberries, black currants, blueberries and a hint of raspberries interwoven with spring flower and crushed chalk-like characteristics presented in a full-bodied yet ethereal, stylish, racy, noble manner. This is a high class, aristocratic, nearly perfect wine to cellar for a decade and then watch it unfold over the following 40-50 years.

Score: 95 - 97 Robert Parker, Wine Advocate Maturity: 2013-2063

Wonderful aromas of blackberries and blueberries with flowers. Very Cabernet Franc. Full body, with intense fruit, tannins and fresh acidity. Tangy and lively. Minerals with lemon and orange peel undertones. Super lively. Texture is beautiful. Same blend as always. 55% Cabernet Franc and 45% Merlot.

Score: 94 - 95 James Suckling, Jamessuckling.com

32 hl/ha. Two-thirds of the crop in the grand vin. 55% Cabernet Franc (picked 13, 15, 17 October), 45% Merlot (9, 11, 12 October) - very late. Fermented in small wooden cuves, (will have) 20 months in barrique, 85% new. Rich dark purple and inky. Touch of oak but not overworked. A touch reduced so has a smoky edge. Supple on the mid palate. Elegant and still richly fruity and a light Cabernet Franc leafiness in the empty glass. Great length. No excess of extraction or oak.

Score: 17 - 18 Julia Harding MW, Jancisrobinson.com Maturity: 2022-2035

A serious yet surprisingly precocious and supple-textured Pauillac, the dense ruby/purple-colored, medium to full-bodied 2012 Batailley exhibits sweet, nicely textured tannins along with plenty of black fruit, forest floor, underbrush and cedar characteristics. Ripe, fruity and exceptionally well-made, it will benefit from several years of cellaring, and can be drunk over the following 15 years. (89-91+ Points)

Score: 89 - 91 Robert Parker, Wine Advocate Maturity: 2015-2030

Blackish purple. Unusually savoury .. Meat-extract notes. Interesting! Then sweet and voluptuous on the palate. Very different structure to the St-Juliens. Big and bold and makes a splash. I might have guessed a Pichon if they participated in the UGC blind tasting.. Just cuts off a little suddenly on the finish.

Score: 17 - 18 Jancis Robinson MW, Jancisrobinson.com Maturity: 2022-2038