2012 Primeur Margaux

Margaux

The ones to look for this vintage from Margaux is Château Margaux, Rauzan-Ségla, Palmer, Brane-Cantenac, Issan and

2012 Château Angludet:

Deep ruby. Scented, some bell peppers and cassis. Freshish acidity, ripe tannins, quite elegant but could be more lively, good length. 87-89

2012 Château d'Arsac:

Ruby. Coffee, cassis and vanilla nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, quite austere palate. 84-86

2012 Château Bellevue de Tayac:

Ruby. Floral and  cassis nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fairly elegant, leaner style. Fruity. 84-86

2012 Château Brane-Cantenac:

Ruby. Scented, liquorice, kind of careful nose, layered and nuanced. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, elegant body and texture, silky, long. 90-92

2012 Château Boyd-Cantenac:

Deep ruby. Vanilla, scented, and a lighter nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, lean and easy going. 85-87

2012 Château Cantenac Brown:

Ruby. Scented, floral and  nuanced nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, quite lively and elegant, lovely texture, long. 89-91

2012 Clos du Jaugueyron:

Deep ruby. Fruity, scented, blueberries nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fruity, a bit green underneath, edgy. 86-88

2012 Clos du Margalaine:

Deep ruby. Coffee and vanilla nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fruitier palate, packed in vanilla. 83-85

2012 Château Le Coteau:

Deep ruby. Fruity and scented nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, leanish but elegant fruit. 85-87

2012 Château Dauzac:

Ruby. Scented, a bit more up front, quite intense, almost a bit extracted feel on the nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fruit on the ripe side, fairly refreshing, long. 88-90

2012 Château Desmirail:

Ruby. Vanilla, anise and dark berries. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fruity, quite elegant if easy going, good length. 86-88

2012 Château Deyrem Valentin:

Deep ruby. Fruit and lots of vanilla nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, leaner body, fruity but spices from barrel are showy, good length. 86-88

2012 Château du Tertre:

Deep ruby. Scented, violets, nuanced nose, even if on the ripe side. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, elegant, fairly lively if a bit sweet, slightly warm finish. 87-89

2012 Château Durfort-Vivens:

Deep ruby. Fruity, ripe feel on the nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, ripe but more nuanced palate, good length. 85-87

2012 Château Ferriere:

Ruby. Scented, slightly floral, cassis, a bit subdued. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, refreshing, a bit one dimensional, but elegant. 87-89

2012 Château Giscours:

Ruby. Scented and quite intense nose, blackberries and vanilla. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fruity, quite lively, refreshing, fairly rounded. Long. 89-91

2012 Château La Gurgue:

Deep ruby. Blueberries and coffee nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fruity, fairly elegant if a bit ripe and sweet. 85-87

2012 Château d'Issan:

Deep ruby. Scented, not too intense but nuanced nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, soft and velvety texture, lively and refreshing, very elegant, long. 91-93

2012 Château Kirwan:

Deep ruby. Somewhat scented but rather rich and sweet nose. Freshish acidity, ripe tannins, mellow and rounded body, quite elegant but ever so slightly boring. Good length. 88-90

2012 Château Labégorce:

Deep ruby. Dark berries, anise and some vanilla. Freshish acidity, ripe tannins, velvety palate but a bit easygoing and straightforward. 86-88

2012 Château Lascombes:

Deep ruby. Slightly rich nose, dark berries and vanilla. Freshish acidity, ripe tannins, fruity, a bit of a ball, a bit warm finish. 85-87

2012 Château Malescot Saint-Exupery:

Deep ruby. Rich and fruity nose, plums, coffee, liquorice. Freshish acidity, ripe tannins, slightly sweetish, lacks nuance. 87-89

2012 Château Margaux:

Ruby. Leaps out of the glass, scented, layered, incredible nose, refined and nuanced. One of a handfull wines this vintage that one can smell for hours on end. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, refreshing and lovely body and texture, refined, velvety, long. 93-95

2012 Pavillon Rouge du Château Margaux:

Ruby. Scented, elegant and nuanced nose, touch of violets. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, elegant and lively body and texture, good length. 87-89

2012 Pavillon Blanc du Château Margaux:

Pale lemon yellow. Grapefruit, vanilla, some minerals, slightly smoky. Fresh acidity, elegant fruit, lively and refreshing, long and lively finish. 91-93

2012 Château Marquis d'Alesme:

Deep ruby. Ripe and sweet nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fruity, sweet and alcoholic. 84-86

2012 Château Marquis de Terme:

Deep ruby. Scented, vanilla and blueberries nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, lovely fruit but a bit easy going, good length. 86-88

2012 Château Marsac Seguineau:

Bright ruby. Scented, elegant and lovely if light nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fruity and elegant, again on the light side. 85-87

2012 Château Mille Roses:

Deep ruby. Fruity, easy going, some vanilla nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, sweet, soft and easy. 81-83

2012 Marojallia:

Deep ruby. Eucalyptus, cassis and rich nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fruity, fairly elegant body even if rich and oaky finish. 85-87

2012 Château Monbrison:

Ruby. Slightly scented, not that intense, some dark berries nose. Freshish acidity, ripe tannins, easy going and straightforward. 85-87

2012 Château Mongravey:

Deep ruby. Sweet, ripe and alcoholic nose. Freshish acidity, ripe tannins, boring and sweet. 82-84

2012 Château Palmer:

Deep ruby. Scented, deeper and nuanced nose. Cassis and some spices, complex. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, subtle, elegant and very refreshing, lovely fruit and balance, long. 91-93

2012 Château Paveil de Luze:

Ruby. Fruity, fairly elegant and slightly scented nose. Freshish acidity, ripe tannins, lean and easygoing palate. 82-84

2012 Château Prieuré-Lichine:

Deep ruby. Scented, blueberries, some anise and vanilla. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, a bit lean but quite elegant. Good length. 86-88

2012 Château Rauzan-Gassies:

Deep ruby. Scented, dark berries, some vanilla, quite intense nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, ever so slightly sweet and the oak is a bit showy at this stage. Good length. 87-89

2012 Château Rauzan-Ségla:

Ruby. Slightly scented, some anise, blueberries, cassis and vanilla, floral. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, lively and refreshing, lovely fruit and balance, fairly playful. Long. 91-93

2012 Château Siran:

Ruby. Scented, blueberries, some vanilla, fairly nuanced nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, oaky and spicy finish, almost austere. Let's hope there is fruit to handle the barrels. 84-86

2012 Château La Tour de Bessan:

Deep ruby. Scented, and alcoholic nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, ripe and a bit lean, refreshing. 83-85

2012 Château La Tour de Mons:

Deep ruby. Fruity and slightly scented nose. Fresh acidty, ripe tannins, easy going, quite lively, good length. 84-86