2012 St. Emilion Bordeaux Wine Tasting Notes in Barrel Ratings

2012 St. Emilion lacks the level of consistency found in Pomerol, its Right Bank rival. But do not kid yourself, there are some very strong 2012 St. Emilion wines, but it’s on a property by property basis. At their best, the wines are stylish, sexy wines of character and quality for the most part, will drink well on release.

2012 Angelus – From a blend of 55% Merlot and 45% Cabernet Franc, the wine shows good depth of color. Smoke, truffle, espresso bean, blackberries, earth and spice create the aromatics. Medium bodied in density there is a core of dark spicy plums in the finish. Angelus is still in the middle of a complete renovation, which should be finished by the 2014 vintage. 92-94 Pts

2012 Le Carillon d’Angelus – Medium bodied, soft and already approachable, the wine delivers juicy plums and an easy to like personality. 85-88 Pts

2012 Les Asteries – Blending 83% Merlot with 17% Cabernet Franc, the wine reached 13.5% alcohol with a pH of 3.55. A strong sense of minerality, dark berries and stone, the wine delivers blackberries, fennel and cocoa powder. Austere in style, the wine will be interesting to see it develop over the wines. 89-92 Pts

2012 Ausone – The Merlot was harvested on October 9, 11 and 12, while the Cabernet Franc was picked, October 13, 15 and 17, with yields of 32 hectoliters per hectare. The assemblage is 55% Cabernet Franc and 45% Merlot and will be aged in 85% new, French oak for 18 months. Floral, stone, licorice and black cherries create the aromatics. Supple, rich, mineral driven, polished black cherry and raspberries end with the one do the richest, most opulent finishes of the vintage. 94-97 Pts

2012 Chapelle d’Ausone – From a blend of 60% Cabernet Franc, 25% Merlot and 15% Cabernet Sauvignon, (Cabernet Sauvignon is never included in the Grand Vin) the wine will be aged in 85% new, French oak for 20 months. Oak, fennel and plummy notes, soft tannins, and a long, fresh, black raspberry finish are what you’ll find in this wine. It’s hard to believe this is the product of a second wine. 90-92 Pts

2012 Badette – Sweet, jammy berries, soft tannins, licorice, chocolate and black cherries are found in the wine. 88-90 Pts

2012 Balestard La Tonnelle Oak, licorice, caramel, round, soft, black raspberries, chocolate covered cherries. 90-92 Pts

2012 Barde Haut Packed with luscious, sweet, ripe, polished berries, the wine is rich, flashy, fleshy, forward and fun, finishing with licorice coated black cherries. 91-93 Pts

2012 Beau-Sejour Becot – This is the first vintage using the new cellar with the inverted, stainless steel vats for vinification. The wine is filled with the essence of minerals, licorice and juicy plums with fresh, blackberries, vanilla and fennel in the finish. Using 75 % Merlot, 20% Cabernet and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon, the wine reached 14% alcohol. 90-93 Pts

2012 Beausejour Duffau-Lagreosse – Showing a lot of depth in the color, fresh, dark, smoky, jammy berries, fleshy, rich, opulent textures and a velvet textured, full bodied, mineralistic, rich, concentrated finish are the hallmarks of this wine. This is the fourth strong vintage in a row for Beausejour Duffau! 94-96 Pts

2012 Belair-Monange – Floral, earth, licorice and stone scents create the perfume. The palate is plush, polished and perky, with minerality, supple, refined textured and ripe dark berries in the finish. 92-94 Pts

2012 Bel Air Ouy – Light ruby in color, hints of earth, licorice and dark cherries emerge. Medium bodied with a core of birth, sweet and tart berries. 86-88 Pts

2012 Bellefont-Belcier – Medium bodied, licorice, black cherry liqueur and licorice finish produced a successful debut vintage for its new owners. 89-91 Pts

2012 Bellevue – With its typical blend of 98% Merlot and 2% Cabernet Franc, the wine pops with licorice, blackberry jam, truffle and stone aromatics. Ripe, sweet, lush and polished, with good depth of flavor and a sweet, jammy black personality, due to its high Merlot content, the wine is quite successful this year. 92-94 Pts

2012 Bellevue Mondotte – With a deep shade of ruby, the wine is packed with fennel, crushed stone, flowers, espresso and ripe dark and red berries. Concentrated, rich and supple, the wine ends with ripe, juicy, sweet, polished plums and oak. 93-95 Pts

2012 Berliquet – With a blend from 65% Merlot with 30% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon shows a deep, ruby color, dark red berries and a cocoa and cherry finish. 87-89 Pts

2012 La Bienfaisance – 85% Merlot and 15% Cabernet Franc produced a wine with coffee bean, fennel and black plums. Soft, forward and round, the wine ends with sweet cherries and strawberry. 89-91 Pts

2012 Cadet Bon – Licorice, earth, jammy blackberries, polished, sweet, round and forward, with a short, black cherry finish. 88-90 Pts

2012 Canon – Earth, stone, fresh red berries, medium bodied, soft and fresh, this is a forward style for Canon, making it one of the vintages tasters can enjoy young. 90-92 Pts

2012 Canon La Gaffeliere – Harvested over a four week period from October 10, through November 10, the wine is produced from a blend of Merlot and Cabernet Franc that is 50/50. On the nose, the wine opens with flowers, licorice, coffee, spice and blackberries. On the palate, the medium bodied, silky wine is soft with fresh black raspberries and a cherry filled finish. 91-93 Pts

2012 Le Carre – Blending 85% Merlot with 15% Cabernet Franc, the wine reached 13.35% alcohol with a pH 3.35. Deep in color, with boysenberry, coffee and licorice, with a sweetness to the dark berries, freshness and a taught, mineral driven finish. 89-92 Pts

2012 Cheval Blanc 54% Merlot and 46% Cabernet Franc, the wine reached 13.9% alcohol with a pH of 3.78. One of the keys to the vintage at Cheval Blanc was the extensive green harvesting needed, due to the extended time needed for flowering. In the perfume, the wine pops with flowers, licorice, earth, caramel and ripe, sweet blackberries. On the palate, the wine displays sweet, black and red fruits, spice and a fresh, purity of sweet fruit. The tannins are silky, the wine is fresh and long in the finish, complicated by an herbal, tapenade note buried in the fresh, ripe fruit. This really displays a a beautiful purity of fruit in its expression. 94-96 Pts

2012 Le Petit Cheval – 75% Cabernet Franc with 25% Merlot create the blend. Flowers, licorice, red berries and elegant textures dominated by fresh red plums and cherries are the hallmark of this wine. 90-92 Pts

2012 Chauvin – Earth, spice, licorice, red berries, medium bodied, dry finish. 86-88 Pts

2012 Clos Badon Thunevin –Showing depth of color, the wine is earthy, with dark berries and w wild strawberry and dark chocolate finish. 87-89 Pts

2012 Clos de Sarpe – With smoke, stone, plum and coffee notes the wine offers a structured, powerful, mineral driven, tannic finish. This is one of the more structured wines of the vintage. 89-92 Pts

2012 Clos Dubreuil – The first vintage to include fruit from the recently purchased vines was produced from a blend of 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc. Jammy black cherries and licorice notes lead to fleshy, sweet, licorice and berry filled wine. 90-92 Pts

2012 Clos des Jacobins – Coffee, licorice, dark red berries, round, oaky, slightly dry finish. 88-90 Pts

2012 Clos Fourtet – With 86% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon and 4% Cabernet Franc, the wine reached 14% alcohol with a pH of 3.7. The wine will be aged in 60%, new, French oak barrels for 18 months. Deep in color, with floral, licorice, dark red berries and earth in the nose, the wine is rich, lush and deep, with soft tannins the wine ends with sweet, licorice and chocolate covered berries. To produce the wine in this difficult vintage, Chateau Clos Fourtet performed 3 green harvests during the growing season. 93-95 Pts

2012 Clos de l’Oratoire – From 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc, the wine will be aged in 60% new, French oak. Licorice, earth and cherries, round textures, medium bodied and a sweet, red cherry finish. 89-91 Pts

2012 Clos La Madeleine – Minerals, flowers, earth, plum, vanilla and licorice open to a ripe, round, polished, dark, red berry driven wine. 90-92 Pts

2012 Clos Romanile – Dark in color, with oak, licorice, vanilla and blackberry aromas. Medium bodied, with a tart blackberry finish. 85-88 Pts

2012 Clos St. Julien – Stone and truffle with fresh berries and an austere, mineral driven finish. 87-90 Ptss

2012 Clos St. Martin – Blending 70% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, the wine reached 14% alcohol, with a pH of 3.76. Coffee bean, licorice and jammy cherries open to a silky, sensuous, lush, black cherry filled, spicy wine. The final vintage made by Sophie Fourcade. 91-93 Pts

2012 La Clotte -A nice perfume of licorice, cocoa, flowers and cherries opens to a medium bodied, fresh wine with a focus on peppy, dark, red berries. 88-90 Pts

2012 La Commanderie – Chalky, showing a bit too much oak and extraction at this stage, it should improve with age. 84-86 Pts

2012 La Confession 76% Merlot with 24% Cabernet Franc produced a wine packed with jammy plums, earth and spice with and lush textures with a bit of chalk in the finish. 88-91 Pts

2012 Cote de Baleau – 80% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Franc and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon create the blend. Medium bodied, earthy red berries, light red fruit filled finish. 85-87 Pts

2012 Corbin – From 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc, the wine reached 13.5% alcohol. With a nose of licorice and fresh black raspberry jam, the medium bodied wine is soft, smooth and forward, ending with dark berries and hint of dust in the finish. 89-91 Pts

2012 Couspaude – From a blend that resembles the plantings at 75% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon, the wine is deep in color. With a nose of coffee bean, licorice, smoke, and jammy blackberries, the wine is lush, fat, forward and filled with vanilla tinged, spicy plums. 88-89 Pts

2012 Couvent des Jacobins – Medium bodied, simple, red berries with a chalky finish. 85-87 Pts

2012 Croix de Labrie – Produced from small parcel of 100% old vine Merlot, the wine pops with rich scents of chocolate covered cherries, licorice and coffee. This medium bodied wine is forward, round, soft and sweet. 91-93 Pts

2012 Dassault – Medium bodied, dominated by juicy, ripe, red berries, anise and spice, this will drink well on release. 89-91 Pts

2012 Daugay – Light cherry tones, medium body and a soft, ready to drink red berry finish. 86-88 Pts

2012 Destieux – Light in color, with red berries, espresso bean, medium bodied with a dry finish. 87-88 Pts

2012 Le Dome – With a lot of Cabernet Franc for the vintage at 80%, the remainder taken up by 20% Merlot, the wine reached 13% alcohol with a pH of 3.72. Fresh flowers, black raspberries and espresso bean, polished, strong tannins and a fresh, black raspberry, structured, stern, mineral dominated finish. 92-94 Pts

2012 La Dominique – Licorice, jammy cherries, espresso, spice box and floral notes open to medium bodied, spicy, red berry filled wine. 89-91 Pts

2012 Edmus – 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc produced a medium bodied, soft wine a black cherry filled finish. 87-89 Pts

2012 Faurie de Souchard – Herbs, dark red fruits, round tannins and a spicy red berry finish are found in this wine. 88-90 Pts

2012 de Ferrand – Simple, short, crowd pleasing wine. 85-87 Pts

2012 Figeac – From a blend of blend of 40% Merlot, 40% Cabernet Franc and 20% Cabernet Sauvignon. This is a different style for Figeac. Much of the credit goes to the bringing in Michel Rolland and Valmy Nicolas from Chateau La Conseillante in Pomerol. This is the first vintage where Michel Rolland was involved in the blending. Notes of truffle, earth, coffee bean, licorice and spicy berry notes opened to a silky, round, supple textured, elegant wine, filled with ripe, sweet, plums and black raspberries. 92-94 Pts

2012 Fleur Cardinale – Truffle, earth, spice, blackberry, plum and cocoa scents open to a full bodied, sweet, round wine with character and ripeness. 92-94 Pts

2012 Croix Cardinale – Lush, sweet, fleshy, ripe and over ripe berries, with licorice, dark chocolate and black cherry liqueur. 90-92 Pts

2012 Secret de Cardinale – From 100% Merlot, the wine is supple textured, soft, round and filled with jammy, chocolate covered cherries. This is perfect for early drinking. 89-91 Pts

2012 Fonbel – Blending 60% Merlot, 25% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Petit Verdot and 5% Carmenere, the wine is aged in 30% new French oak. Soft in texture, with spice, cherry and herbal notes, the wine ends with spicy blackberries. 87-88 Pts

2012 Fombrauge – Packed with licorice, black cherry, cocoa, coffee bean and lush textures, this round, fat, forward styled wine delivers a fleshy, chocolate covered black cherry finish. 90-92 Pts

2012 Fonplegade – 95% Merlot and 5% and Cabernet Franc produced the blend. Deep in color, with a stony, black raspberry filled nose. On the palate, the wine offers sweet, black cherries and a dark chocolate, black plum, round finish. 90-92 Pts

2012 Fleur de Fonplegade – Easy drinking, red berry dominated, nice restaurant wine. 83-85 Pts

2012 Franc Mayne – Coffee cake, licorice, caramel and plum notes pair with soft, silky textures that end with a dusty red berry finish. 88-90 Pts

2012 La Gaffeliere – Blending 80% Merlot with 20% Cabernet Franc, the wine reached 13.8% alcohol. On the palate, the mineral driven, oaky, blackberry filled wine is well made, but it lacks excitement. 89-91 Pts

2012 Guadet – This blend of 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc showed a bit too much oak and over extraction, perhaps it will improve during the aging. 84-86 Pts

2012 Godeau – The first vintage for the new owners produced a wine made from 95% Merlot and 5% Cabernet Franc, reaching 13.8% alcohol. Cherry blossom, licorice and oak scents open to a wine of finesse ending with sweet red berries and a touch of oak in the finish. 89-91 Pts

2012 Gracia – Sandalwood, licorice, blackberry and cocoa notes, fleshy, sweet, ripe, blackberries with cocoa are found in the finish. 91-93 Pts

2012 Les Angelots Gracia – Incense, coffee and blackberry notes open to spicy, dark berries and a saline, dark chocolate and blackberry finish. 88-90 Pts

2012 Grand Corbin Despagne – Medium bodied, black cherry fruits, soft tannins, drying finish 87-89 Pts

2012 Grand Corbin Manuel – Medium bodied, with ample notes of licorice, cherry and strawberry wines, the wine ends with sweet and tart, fresh cherries in the finish. 86-89 Pts

2012 Grandes Murailles  – From 100% Merlot, the wine reached 13.5% alcohol. Licorice, kirsch, black raspberry liqueur, flowers and oak scents create the aromatics. On the palate the wine is silky, medium bodied and ends with fresh, black raspberries. 89-91 Pts

2012 Grand Mayne = Licorice, black raspberries, truffle and spice notes, soft tannins, medium bodied, silky textured and a chocolate, fennel, raspberry filled finish. 89-91 Pts

2012 Haut Brisson – Oak, bright cherry fruit and chocolate covered cherry, round finish. 87-89 Pts

2012 Haut Brisson Reserve – From 98% Merlot and 2% Cabernet Franc, the wine offers red berries, silky tannins and a forward, dill, oak and cherry finish. 89-91 Pts

2012 Haut Simard – From a typical Right Bank blend of 80% Merlot and 20% Merlot, the wine will be aged in 50% new, French oak for 12 months. Spicy black raspberries, coffee bean and earth lead to soft, medium bodied wine that ends with sharp cassis and cherry notes. 87-89 Pts

2012 Jean Faure – Smoke, red fruits, medium bodied with a chalky finish. 84-86 Pts

2012 La Fleur Morange Mathilde – Smoke, vanilla, soft fruits, ripe jammy berries, but a touch dryness in the finish. 86-88 Pts

2012 La Fleur Morange – With a good depth of color for the vintage, the wine displays licorice, fennel, earth, coffee and plum notes. Rich, with depth of flavor and roundness, there is a lot to like in this wine. 90-93 Pts

2012 Laforge – Blending 92% Merlot with 8% Cabernet Franc, the wine opens with black cherry, cocoa and fennel. Medium bodied, short, mineral driven, blackberry finish. 89-91 Pts

2012 Larcis Ducasse – 83% Merlot and 17% Cabernet Franc created a wine pops with crushed stone, flowers and dark berries. Round in texture, the wines ends with a sweet, licorice and cherry sensation. 91-94 Pts

2012 Larmande – Herbs, licorice, dark red berries and coffee bean scents, medium full bodied, ending with a short, oaky, sweet, red berry finish. 87-89 Pts.

2012 Laroze – Bright red fruits, oak, medium bodied with a touch of dryness to the tannins in the finish. 84-86 Pts

2012 Louis – 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc produced a wine with coffee licorice and earth. There is a sense of minerality in the soft, red berry finish. 88-90 Pts

2012 Lucia – From a blend of 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc, the wine opens with licorice, black cherry and earth. Medium bodied, soft and forward in style, the wine end with black cherry and fennel notes. 88-90 Pts

2012 Lusseau –Light ruby, with smoky red berries and spice, the wine is filled with sweet, jammy red berries and should be fun to drink on release. 87-89 Pts

2012 Lynsolence – Black cherry, spice, licorice, lush textures and a nice, chocolate covered black berry finish are the hallmarks of this wine. 90-92 Pts

2012 Magrez Fombrauge – Inky in color and just as concentrated on the palate with layers of chocolate covered blackberries and cherries, the wine is sexy and intense. 92-94 Pts

2012 Monbousquet – Coffee bean, licorice, smoke, spice and jammy black raspberries make up the perfume. On the palate, the wine is approachable, soft, polished and round, ending with an oaky, sweet, kirsch finish. 89-91 Pts

2012 Monbousquet Blanc – Fresh aromas of grapefruit, lemon, orange, honeysuckle and vanilla pair well with fleshy texture and fresh, citrus finish. This is an interesting wine as it features the highest percentage of Sauvignon Gris in Bordeaux at close to 33%. 90 Pts

2012 La Mondotte – Earth, broken stone, espresso bean, dark berries, supple tannins, there is a sense of purity of fruit, with only a hint of green in the finish. From a blend of 85% Merlot and 15% Cabernet Franc, the wine, will be aged in 100% new, French oak barrels. 94-95 Pts

2012 Montlabert – Medium bodied, lighter, fresh style of St. Emilion with fresh cherries and chocolate. 87-90 Pts

2012 Moulin St. Georges  – The blend of 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc will be aged in 85% new, French oak for 18 months. Espresso bean, licorice and lush cherries, round textures and a sweet, plum finish are found in this wine. 89-91 Pts

2012 du Parc – With a ruby color, oak, licorice, coffee, spice and black raspberries are up front with little effort. On the palate, the wine is ripe, sweet, soft, and filled with ripe black cherries. 88-90 Pts

2012 Pavie – With the color of a deep ruby gem, the wine pops with spice, incense, fresh brewed espresso, plum, cherry and blackberry. Smooth, polished and silky, there is a beautiful, sweet core of ripe red, white and black cherries. Pavie is in the midst of a complete, top to bottom renovation that believe it or not, will be finished by the start of Vinepo in June! 93-95 Pts

2012 Pavie Decesse – Licorice, spice, earth, plum, black cherry and stone notes are made more interesting by the soft, sexy, polished textures, polished tannins and long, spicy, silky finish. 92-94 Pts

2012 Esprit Pavie – The wine is light in color, with a soft, plush, spicy, red fruit dominated, forward personality. 86-88 Pts

2012 Pavie Macquin – 85% Merlot, 14% Cabernet Franc and a dab of Cabernet Sauvignon produced the blend. Licorice, flowers, coffee bean and juicy ripe plums, with silky tannins and a sweet, fresh, black cherry finish are found in this wine. 93-95 Pts

2012 Peby Faugeres – Fleshy, rich, chocolate covered black and blue fruits, espresso, jam and licorice notes lead to a sensuous, plush, fat wine, with a sweet, opulent, ripe, fruit driven finish. 93-95 Pts

2012 Petit Gravet Aine – Broken stone, herbs, floral and forest scents, plum, expressive, powerful, structured. Unique expression of St. Emilion. 88-90 Pts

2012 Pierre de Lune – Minerality, smoke, earth and fresh berries, round textures, jammy, cocoa and a berry filled finish are found in the wine. 89-91 Pts

2012 de Pressac – Earthy, spicy, oaky, medium bodied, red plums and cherries. 88-90 Pts

2012 Le Prieure – Medium bodied, black and red fruit, soft, dry in the finish. 87-89 Pts

2012 Puy Blanquet – Hints of fennel and black raspberry, with a sweet and tart, red berry finish. More interesting on the nose than the palate. 84-86 Pts

2012 Quinault L’Enclos – For the first time, the blend did not use any Cabernet Sauvignon in the blend. More Merlot was added, making the assemblage 89% Merlot with 19% Cabernet Franc. a Fresh strawberries and licorice open to a soft, light, expression of the estate, with fresh, bright, clean, light red berries. 88-90 Pts

2012 Quintus – Bright, fresh, spicy red berries lead to a zippy, very fresh, spicy mouthful of red berries. 88-90 Pts

2012 Rol Valentin – Medium bodied, with a refined character, licorice, coffee bean nad blackberries, the wine is soft, but a bit light in the finish. 89-91 Pts

2012 Sanctus de La Bienfaisance – Sanctus reached one of the higher degrees of ripeness in the vintage at 14.37. Blending the 70% Merlot with 30% Cabernet Franc, the wine has silky tannins, sweet, dark red berries and a soft, cherry filled finish. 90-92 Pts

2012 Sansonnet – Deep ruby in color, with coffee bean and black cherry notes in the nose, this medium bodied, round, supple wine ends with a fresh, spicy black cherries. 89-91 Pts

2012 Saintayme – From 100% Merlot, aged in 30% new, French oak, the wine is focused on cherries, black raspberry, stone and spice, ending with sweet, dark red berries and black cherry. 87-89 Pts

2012 La Serre – With a light kiss of oak, the wine offers fresh cherries, medium body and a light, fresh, clean, red berry finish. 86-88 Pts

2012 Simard – 65% Merlot and 35% Cabernet Franc produced a wine with earth and raspberry notes with a medium body and a light, sweet and tart red cherry finish. 84-86 Pts

2012 Soutard – Coffee bean, jammy cherries, licorice, truffle and blackberry notes open to a round, dark cherry, stone and licorice filled wine with a sweet, kirsch and finish. 87-90 Pts

2012 Tertre Roteboeuf – Always a fun place to taste, I was told pick the barrel I wanted to choose from and went with lucky number 7. From a blend of 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc, the wine reached 14%. The fruit, harvested in a single day, October 8 sings with licorice, spicy raspberries and earth. Fresh, pure raspberries, silky tannins and lush textures end with ripe, sweet cherries. 94-95 Pts

2012 Teyssier – Coffee bean, fennel and black raspberries, medium bodied, easy to drink, dark cherry finish. From a blend of 70% Merlot with 30% Cabernet Franc. 87-89 Pts

2012 Trimoulet – From a typical Right Bank blend of 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc, this is the second vintage for Nicolas Thienpont at Trimoulet. Medium bodied, simple, dry green and over oaked. 85-87 Pts

2012 Trotte Vieille – Blending 49% Merlot, 48% Cabernet Franc and 3% Cabernet Sauvignon, the wine opens with earth, spice and black raspberries. Medium bodied and fresh, in a classic style, the wine ends with soft cherry fruits and a bright finish. 89-91 Pts

2012 La Tour Figeac – Deep in color, with stone, coffee, licorice and black raspberries, the wine is soft in texture with ripe and over ripe cherries in the oaky finish. 88-90 Pts

2012 Tour Saint Christophe – From 85% Merlot and 15% Cabernet Franc, the wine is whole berry fermented in barrel. Licorice, coffee, cherry liqueur, round, polished, spicy, red raspberry filled finish. 87-89 Pts

2012 Troplong Mondot – From a blend of 90% Merlot, 8% Cabernet Sauvignon and 2% Cabernet Franc, the will come in at close to 14.5% alcohol. Dark in color, with Licorice, jam, earth, dark chocolate, coffee and smoke aromas open to a silky, plush, polished, rich textured wine filled with sweet, jammy blackberries, dark chocolate and black raspberry. Thick, lush and rich, this is a wine for hedonists. 93-95 Pts

2012 Valandraud – Murielle Andraud has been in charge of the Bordeaux wine making at the property since 2007. She is clearly on a roll! One of the deepest colored wines of the vintage, truffle, spicy oak, chocolate and black raspberry jam notes are impossible not to notice. Lush, rich and sexy, with an opulent, flashy, personality, this is one of the top wines from St. Emilion in 2012. Look for a new, updated label with 2012 Valandraud that marks the estates Grand Cru Classe’ status. 94-96 Pts

2012 Valandraud 3 de Valandruad – Light ruby in color, with wine opens with earth cherry scents, medium body and a light, red berry finish. 87-89 Pts

2012 Virginie de Valandraud – Oak, vanilla and red with black fruits, round textures, tannic with some dryness in the finish. 89-91 Pts

2012 Vieux Chateau Mazerat – According to Jonathan Maltus, the final blend is 60% Merlot and 40% Cabernet Franc, which produced a wine that reached 13.5% alcohol with a pH of 3.79. Very spicy in this vintage, with a structured, floral, firm, mineral driven style, the wine offers a lot fennel, coffee and black jammy raspberries in the finish. 91-93 Pts

2012 Villemaurine – The debut vintage for consultant Hubert de Bouard, the wine is medium bodied, soft, round, supple red cherries, licorice, coffee, spice and freshness are found in this wine. 90-92 Pts