The 2012 vintage develops an impressive range of aromas and flavours. The colour is a deep, ruby red with a crimson tinge. The nose shows great aromatic purity and stunning complexity: red fruits (raspberry, cherry), black fruits (blackcurrant jam, blueberry) and delicate floral nuances (rose and violet). Freshness (mint and eucalyptus) and minerality (graphite, chalk) round off a lively aromatic profile. The bouquet is quite unique: extremely pure and no oak is visible at all - a sign of a great vintage. The wine has a precise and intense flavour. The full body is concentrated, with firm tannins that are extremely rich. The elegant texture is accompanied by fresh, complex flavours. The wine's incredible length is both rich and delicate. In fact, the wine seems to rise in intensity and then retreat imperceptibly and gradually.
The wine varieties are 53 % of merlot, 45 % of cabernet franc and 2 % of cabernet sauvignon. After 23-31 days of maceration, the wine was aged for 16-17 months in new French oak barriques.
April was cold and very wet. May and June were milder, but it rained until 15 July. Then came a long period of fine, very dry weather. The whole growing season in 2012 was very similar to 2000: the first half was rainy and the second half very dry. In addition, the temperature patterns for the two vintages are strikingly similar. The average temperature during the growing cycle in 2012 was 18.5 °C, 0.6 °C above average.
Ratings:
- Wine Enthusiast: 96 / 100
- Robert Parker The Wine Advocate: 96 / 100
- Wine Spectator: 93 / 100