Margaux 2012

Margaux, First Growth

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Tasting Notes
The 2012 Château Margaux is showing much differently from bottle than it did from cask. Seemingly much fuller and richer, it has a dense ruby/purple color, representing a blend of 87% Cabernet Sauvignon and the rest mostly Merlot, as well as only 33% of their harvest. It possesses hints of spring flowers intermixed with blueberries, blackberries and cassis fruit, moderate tannin, a multi-dimensional mouthfeel, and a long, structured finish. This 2012 was charming, up-front and precociously styled from barrel, but in bottle it is more masculine, dense and rich. This wine needs a good 5-7 years of cellaring, and should keep well for 25 or more years. This is a great effort from Château Margaux, and should handsomely repay those who buy it. Score: 95 Robert Parker, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com Maturity: 2023-2040 01 April 2015
This quintessentially finesse-styled Margaux exhibits notes of pure black currants, spring flowers, graphite and forest floor. With supple tannins and medium body, this pretty, stylish effort reminds me of the 2001 or perhaps a modern day, improved version of their 1979. The lovely 2012 should be drinkable in 4-5 years and last for two decades. Only about one-third of the total production made it into the 2012 Chateau Margaux, which is a blend of 87% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Merlot and the rest Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Like many Medoc first-growths in this vintage, this estate-s aim was to make an elegant, supple-styled 2012 that emphasized the fruit, charm and delicacy of this terroir rather than pushing extraction and going for a powerhouse, which would have been difficult to produce in a vintage like 2012. The natural alcohol is 13%. Score: 92 - 94 Robert Parker, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com Maturity: 2017-2037 26 April 2013
Bay and menthol hints lift a core of crushed plum and warm cherry confiture notes while the background fills steadily with black tea, singed alder and iron elements. Turns a little darker on the finish, with a coating of bittersweet cocoa powder and roasted vanilla bean accents, while the minerality stays buried for now. Remarkably dense and packed, yet refined, especially for the vin- tage. This will need some time to unwind. Best from 2018 through 2030. Score: 95 James Molesworth, Wine Spectator Maturity: 2018-2030 15 January 2015
Shows a tight nose, but manages to convey pure, fresh notes of red fruit and violet. Almost sleek, with fine-grained tannins carrying the red currant paste and iron accents. The plum skin-tinged finish sings, displaying remarkable integration already. A very impressive showing today. Tasted non-blind. Score: 93 - 96 James Molesworth, Wine Spectator 08 April 2013
Tasted at a vertical at the property, the 2007 is far more open than the 2006 La Fleur de Gay: blackberry, dill, briary and crushed stone with fine delineation. The palate is medium-bodied with vibrant red-berried fruit and a crystalline quality that lends it such tension and poise. Bright red cherries, wild strawberry and a touch of spice towards the long, open finish. Tasted June 2011. Score: 18 - 19 Steven Spurrier, Decanter.com 26 April 2013
87% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Merlot, 2% Cabernet Franc, 1% Petit Verdot. Chaptalised a little bit in 2012 - the first time for ages. Much less sugar than in the 1980s. Final alcohol is 13%. Paul Pontallier commented: Press wine is the single most important element, more than 17% in 2012. Blind you can't tell the press wine. Our greatest advance in winemaking. Great finesse. But perhaps a little minor key. Denser, analytically, than in 2010, 2005. Heady and very much in the same style as the Pavillon but a bit more emphatic. Grand .. Not in a monumental sense because there is nothing big about this. Very discreet and I think the two wines are closer together than usual. Score: 18 Jancis Robinson MW, JancisRobinson.com Maturity: 2022-2038 22 April 2013
This is tannic and rich on the finish. Lacks a bit on the center palate, but full and very pretty fruit. Long finish. 90% Cabernet Sauvignon and Franc, 9% Merlot, and 1% Petit Verdot. Score: 93 - 94 James Suckling, JamesSuckling.com 04 April 2013

Tasting Notes

The 2012 Château Margaux is showing much differently from bottle than it did from cask. Seemingly much fuller and richer, it has a dense ruby/purple color, representing a blend of 87% Cabernet Sauvignon and the rest mostly Merlot, as well as only 33% of their harvest. It possesses hints of spring flowers intermixed with blueberries, blackberries and cassis fruit, moderate tannin, a multi-dimensional mouthfeel, and a long, structured finish. This 2012 was charming, up-front and precociously styled from barrel, but in bottle it is more masculine, dense and rich. This wine needs a good 5-7 years of cellaring, and should keep well for 25 or more years. This is a great effort from Château Margaux, and should handsomely repay those who buy it.

Score: 95

Robert Parker, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com Maturity: 2023-2040 01 April 2015

This quintessentially finesse-styled Margaux exhibits notes of pure black currants, spring flowers, graphite and forest floor. With supple tannins and medium body, this pretty, stylish effort reminds me of the 2001 or perhaps a modern day, improved version of their 1979. The lovely 2012 should be drinkable in 4-5 years and last for two decades. Only about one-third of the total production made it into the 2012 Chateau Margaux, which is a blend of 87% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Merlot and the rest Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Like many Medoc first-growths in this vintage, this estate-s aim was to make an elegant, supple-styled 2012 that emphasized the fruit, charm and delicacy of this terroir rather than pushing extraction and going for a powerhouse, which would have been difficult to produce in a vintage like 2012. The natural alcohol is 13%.

Score: 92 - 94

Robert Parker, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com Maturity: 2017-2037 26 April 2013

Bay and menthol hints lift a core of crushed plum and warm cherry confiture notes while the background fills steadily with black tea, singed alder and iron elements. Turns a little darker on the finish, with a coating of bittersweet cocoa powder and roasted vanilla bean accents, while the minerality stays buried for now. Remarkably dense and packed, yet refined, especially for the vin- tage. This will need some time to unwind. Best from 2018 through 2030.

Score: 95

James Molesworth, Wine Spectator Maturity: 2018-2030 15 January 2015

Shows a tight nose, but manages to convey pure, fresh notes of red fruit and violet. Almost sleek, with fine-grained tannins carrying the red currant paste and iron accents. The plum skin-tinged finish sings, displaying remarkable integration already. A very impressive showing today. Tasted non-blind.

Score: 93 - 96

James Molesworth, Wine Spectator 08 April 2013

Tasted at a vertical at the property, the 2007 is far more open than the 2006 La Fleur de Gay: blackberry, dill, briary and crushed stone with fine delineation. The palate is medium-bodied with vibrant red-berried fruit and a crystalline quality that lends it such tension and poise. Bright red cherries, wild strawberry and a touch of spice towards the long, open finish. Tasted June 2011.

Score: 18 - 19

Steven Spurrier, Decanter.com 26 April 2013

87% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Merlot, 2% Cabernet Franc, 1% Petit Verdot. Chaptalised a little bit in 2012 - the first time for ages. Much less sugar than in the 1980s. Final alcohol is 13%. Paul Pontallier commented: Press wine is the single most important element, more than 17% in 2012. Blind you can't tell the press wine. Our greatest advance in winemaking. Great finesse. But perhaps a little minor key. Denser, analytically, than in 2010, 2005. Heady and very much in the same style as the Pavillon but a bit more emphatic. Grand .. Not in a monumental sense because there is nothing big about this. Very discreet and I think the two wines are closer together than usual.

Score: 18

Jancis Robinson MW, JancisRobinson.com Maturity: 2022-2038 22 April 2013

This is tannic and rich on the finish. Lacks a bit on the center palate, but full and very pretty fruit. Long finish. 90% Cabernet Sauvignon and Franc, 9% Merlot, and 1% Petit Verdot.

Score: 93 - 94

James Suckling, JamesSuckling.com 04 April 2013

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