En Primeur Bordeaux 2012

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 , 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 , 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 , 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 , Jamessuckling.com

Copious aromas of Christmas fruitcake, cedar wood, underbrush, incense, black currants and black cherries emerge from this sexy, medium-bodied, lush, fruit-forward St.-Emilion. It should be enormously appealing to consumers over the next 10-12 years.

Score: 90 - 93 , Wine Advocate Maturity: 2013-2025

Features a bright feel, with bergamot, raspberry and cherry pit notes. Slightly sinewy through the finish, but hints at fine length and good fruit in reserve.

Score: 88 - 91 , Wine Spectator

This is very minerally with hints of dark fruits and dark chocolate. Medium to full body, with integrated tannins and a juicy finish. Very fine and reserved. 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc.

Score: 92 - 93 , Jamessuckling.com

90% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc. Sweet juicy red fruit. Lively and very fresh and crunchy. Fragrant and refined in aroma and structure. 60% new oak but not OTT. Tannins are super fine, giving a long finish where the fruit fragrance returns.

Score: 17 , Jancisrobinson.com Maturity: 2017-2025

The 2012 Clos de Sarpe, a blend of 85% Merlot and 15% Cabernet Franc, achieved 15% natural alcohol as well as a remarkably low pH of 3.4. It possesses supple tannins (unusual for this property) as well as a super opaque purple color, and an unctuousness and thickness that are normal for Clos de Sarpe (I have often accused this estate of making wines for those with 19th century tastes). It is undeniably rich and massively extracted, but not the least bit bitter or astringent. The tannins are surprisingly civilized and supple by the standards of Monsieur Beyney. This is a unique, original style of St.-Emilion that may not be for everybody, but it is of very high quality as well as exceptionally long-lived. It should last for 20-25 years. (92-94+ Points)

Score: 92 - 94 , Wine Advocate Maturity: 2013-2038

I like the vibrant fruit in this as well as polished and integrated tannins. Medium-to-full body, fine tannins. We will see what is better -- 2011 or 2012?

Score: 90 - 91 , Jamessuckling.com

The wine is pure with lots of crème de cassis, crushed rock and vanillin characteristics in its long, medium to full-bodied personality. Given the fact that this vineyard was once part of the larger Leoville Las Cases estate, it is no surprise that it is similar to its more famous as well as more expensive cousin. A strong effort in this vintage, it should drink well for 15-20 years. A brilliant effort from Jean-Hubert Delon, Clos du Marquis is now an entirely separate estate from Leoville Las Cases and its second wine, Le Petit Lion. The outstanding 2012 Clos du Marquis is a blend of 92% Cabernet Sauvignon and the rest Merlot and Cabernet Franc and came in at 13.5% natural alcohol. About 50% new oak is used.

Score: 91 - 93 , Wine Advocate Maturity: 2013-2033

Dark purple. Sweet start. Friendly and very very Cabernet - lots of cassis. A Las Cases attempt at openness! Which is still very taut!

Score: 16 - 17 , Jancisrobinson.com Maturity: 2025-2038

Light but lively, with damson plum and cherry fruit, showing a lightly briary edge on the finish.

Score: 88 - 91 , Wine Spectator

This is very tannic and powerful with a full body and intense backbone. Chewy finish. Not up to the Leoville Las Cases level though.

Score: 91 - 92 , Jamessuckling.com

The 2012 Clos Fourtet was cropped at 32 hectoliters per hectare and achieved 14% natural alcohol. The final blend was 85% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Cabernet Franc. It offers an opaque dense purple color along with attractive blackberry, licorice, truffle and cassis fruit notes. It is full-bodied and dense with an authoritative mid-palate, sweet tannin and a layered mouthfeel that builds incrementally into a stunningly long finish. Precocious and charming already, it will drink better at an earlier age than the massive, prodigious 2009. Drink this killer St.-Emilion over the next 15+ years.

Score: 93 - 95 , Wine Advocate Maturity: 2013-2028

Juicy and open, with a bright mix of strawberry, pomegranate and cherry fruit laced with a pleasantly firm structure. Shows more flesh and dark fruit with aeration, releasing a pleasant graphite note and hinting at buried perfume. Should be solid with some aging.

Score: 91 - 94 , Wine Spectator

This is a wine with layers of fruit and firm yet polished tannins. Full body, juicy and rich. It shows outstanding depth for the vintage.

Score: 92 - 93 , Jamessuckling.com

Inky with purple rim. Rich, ripe and spicy. More damson than cassis but fresh. Chewy, some oak char, fruit not as rich on the palate as on the nose so finishes a touch too dry/stringy.

Score: 15 - 16 , Jancisrobinson.com Maturity: 2017-2024