2012 Pessac Leognan wines are mixed. While Haut Brion clearly leads the pack, other chateaux turned in strong performances as well. 2012 Pessac Leognan was another year when the dry, white wines of the region were very successful.
2012 Margaux is perhaps the most consistent appellation in the Medoc. At their best, the wines are refined, elegant, floral and supple textured, with freshness and the best part is, most will drink well on release.
At their best, 2012 Haut Medoc will provide quite charming Bordeaux wine that will deliver pleasure on release. 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.
2012 Pauillac is not going to make anyone forget about 2010 Pauillac or 2009 Pauillac. But it does not need to. The wines are not for long term drinking, which is a good thing for fans of Pauillac
2012 St. Julien is a mixed vintage. There are some fine, medium bodied, classically styled 2012 St Julien wines, along with others displaying dry tannins and over extraction.
When we say something is a good value in the wine business we’re talking about wines that could be $3- $3,000 a bottle, due to the relativity of that value in comparison with wines of the same quality, ilk, style, demand and score.
At its best, 2012 Bordeaux wines are lighter in style, perhaps similar to 2001 or 1999, blended with 2002. In the Right Bank, where the wines were more successful overall, numerous chateaux compare the vintage with 1998. As matter of quality, I do not agree with that premise.
