2012 Haut Medoc Wine Tasting Notes Ratings from Barrel Tastings

Sorry for the delay in publishing the 2012 Haut Medoc tastings comments from other Bordeaux appellations. The tastings got a late start this year, due to the Easter holiday. Following more than two weeks of tastings in Bordeaux, I also spent time in Chateauneuf du Pape. However, we will publish a report everyday this week and next until we are finished. By Friday, all the appellations in the Medoc, Pessac Leognan and Pomerol will be published, St. Emilion, and the Bordeaux value wine guide will be the last to publish, because they are voluminous. St. Estephe is set for tomorrow.

2012 Haut Medoc wines are the product of a difficult growing season. At their best, 2012 Haut Medoc will provide quite charming Bordeaux wine that will deliver pleasure on release. These are true Bordeaux wine drinkers Claret. Other estates that over extracted and used too much oak produced wines with drying tannins that are never going to be a lot of fun to taste. In some vintages, like 2005 or 2009, you can toss darts at a board to buy from the Haut Medoc and surrounding areas, 2012 Haut Medoc wines need to be purchased wiht care.

2012 Belgrave – Medium bodied, with red plums and cherry fruits, the wine offers a light, currant and herb finish. 87-89 Pts

2012 Belle-Vue – With oak, licorice and dark berries, this wine is spicy, fresh and lively, offering good character. 88-90 Pts

2012 Bernadotte – Medium bodied with a tart side to the red berry, dominated wine. 84-86 Pts

2012 Camensac – Light in color, medium boded, red berry dominated wine, with a lean, bright finish. 83-86 Pts

2012 Cantemerle – Offering sweet, soft and ripe dark berries, this wine is fresh and ample with black cherry notes in an elegant style. This remains one of the best Bordeaux value wines in the market today, especially since its a classified growth. 88-90 Pts

2012 Charmail – Floral notes with red berries open to a light and fresh red berry-dominated wine. 87-89 Pts

2012 Chasse Spleen – Austere, tannic red berries with an herb tinged finish. 86-88 Pts

2012 Clos Manou – Bright and crisp with red berries and some green in the bright finish. 84-86 Pts

2012 Coufran – With the highest percentage of Merlot planted in the Medoc, the estate was able to produce a medium bodied, coffee, cherry, herb and earthy wine that will be at its best on release. 84-86 Pts

2012 Fourcas Borie – Formerly sold under the name of Fourcas Dumont is from Bruno Borie of Chateau Ducru Beaucaillou. From a Merlot-dominated blend, licorice, black cherry and jam notes are in the forefront. Light and forward in style, this is an easy-to-drink, crowd-pleasing style of wine that should drink well on release. 86-88 Pts

2012 Goulee – Blending 60% Cabernet Sauvigon and 40% Merlot, the wine reached 13.38% alcohol. Light aromas of earth, black raspberry, jam and licorice open to a light wine with soft textures, light spicy cherry fruits and an easy-to-like personality. 87-89 Pts

2012 Les Grand Chenes – Oaky with dark red berries and a coffee bean and red berry finish. 87-89 Pts

2012 Haut Condissas – Oaky, with licorice, coffee bean and a black cherry personality, the wine has enough polish to be enjoyed on release. 85-87 Pts

2012 La Lagune – Medium bodied, with earthy, red cherries and strawberry accents, elegant in style, this will drink well on release. 88-90 Pts

2012 Potensac – Dominated by Merlot at 48% of the blend, followed by 33% Cabernet Sauvignon and 19% Cabernet Franc, the wine reached 13.47% alcohol and will aged in 33% new French oak. With dark color, the wine opens with herbs, cedar wood, wild strawberry and pepper. Full bodied, dense, tannic and strict, this powerful wine is packed with kirsch, cassis and acidity. It is going to need time to come together. 87-89 Pts

2012 Poujeaux – Blending 52% Cabernet Sauvignon, 39% Merlot, 6% Petit Verdot and 3% Cabernet Franc, the wine reached 13% alcohol with a pH of 3.7. A nice success for the vintage, the wine offers earth, smoke, coffee, cassis and licorice. This blend has roundness, ending with a fresh cassis-filled finish. 89-91 Pts

2012 Preuillac – Medium bodied, with licorice, coffee and cherry sensations, this will be at its best in its youth. 85-87 Pts

2012 Rollan de By – Medium bodied, simple, and vinified to be enjoyed in its youth. 84-86 Pts

2012 Saint Paul – 50% Merlot, 40% Cabernet Sauvignon and 10% Cabernet Franc led to a wine with tobacco and blackberry notes and a short, tannic finish. 84-86 Pts

2012 La Tour de By – Tart and lean in this difficult vintage, the wine is best enjoyed in its youth. 83-86 Pts

2012 La Tour Carnet Oaky and modern, which is not a bad thing, but the wine is too oaky and too modern in his vintage as the wine is suffering from too much extraction with its dry, tart and green finish. 85-88 Pts