《 Château Lafite Rothschild 2012 (RP 91) 》

The 2012 Lafite Rothschild, representing only 38% of their total production, is a blend of 91% Cabernet Sauvignon and the balance mostly Merlot. It is a very stylish, elegant, yet concentrated Lafite Rothschild with an opaque ruby/purple color, soft well-integrated tannins, nice integrated oak, acidity and alcohol. Lafites’s 2012 reveals good, opaque, ruby/purple color and plenty of lead pencil and blackcurrant fruit. The wine is medium-bodied and should hit its prime 2020-2035.

~ 91 Points by Robert M. Parker, Jr., Wine Advocate, Apr 2015

《 Château Margaux 2012 (RP 96) 》

Tasted blind at the 2012 Southwold tasting, the 2012 Château Margaux has a taut, linear, pencil lead-infused bouquet with pure blackberry and boysenberry scents, an undercurrent of tobacco that surfaces after five minutes in the glass. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannin, crisp acidity, a life-affirming sense of balance with well-integrated new oak towards the finish. I concur with Robert Parker that his has become more structured and masculine in bottle, yet there is pedigree here from start to finish, a sense of effortlessness that is seductive. This is a top-class wine from the late Paul Pontallier and his team. Tasted January 2016.

~ 96 Points, Neal Martin, Wine Advocate, Jan 2016

The 2012 Château Margaux is showing much differently from bottle than it did from cask. Seemingly much fuller and richer, it has a dense ruby/purple color, representing a blend of 87% Cabernet Sauvignon and the rest mostly Merlot, as well as only 33% of their harvest. It possesses hints of spring flowers intermixed with blueberries, blackberries and cassis fruit, moderate tannin, a multi-dimensional mouthfeel, and a long, structured finish. This 2012 was charming, up-front and precociously styled from barrel, but in bottle it is more masculine, dense and rich. This wine needs a good 5-7 years of cellaring, and should keep well for 25 or more years. This is a great effort from Château Margaux, and should handsomely repay those who buy it. Anticipated maturity: 2023-2040.

~ 95 Points, Robert M. Parker, Jr., Wine Advocate, Apr 2015

《 Château Haut-Brion Rouge 2012 (RP 96+) 》

Tasted blind at the Southwold 2012 tasting, the 2012 Haut-Brion has an open and generous bouquet with blackcurrant pastille, cassis and briary aromas the exude very pure Merlot. The palate is medium-bodied with a sumptuous opening that is rare in 2012: rounded and generous, caressing in the mouth with black plum and blackcurrant towards the finish, residues of truffle and white pepper lingering on the aftertaste that turn very savory after 15 minutes—bacon fat or Italian cured meats. There is a lot to love about this Haut-Brion although in this blind showing I scored it the same as La Mission Haut-Brion. Who will stick their neck out as the two wines mature? Tasted January 2016.

~ 96+ Points, Neal Martin, Wine Advocate, Jan 2016

The 2012 Haut Brion (65% Merlot, 33% Cabernet Sauvignon, 2% Cabernet Franc) is certainly one of the candidates for the wine of the vintage, with a dense purple color, classic nose of crushed rock, lead pencil shavings, black raspberry, blueberry and flowers. The wine shows subtle barbecue smoke notes in the background, but is full-bodied, stunningly concentrated and builds incrementally, yet finishes with luxurious, almost extravagant amounts of fruit and intensity. From only 46% of the production, this is an absolutely remarkable effort from the Dillon family and their winemaking team of the two Jean-Philippes. Drink it over the next 30-40 years.

~ 98 Points, Robert M. Parker, Jr., Wine Advocate, Apr 2015

《 Château Mouton Rothschild 2012 (RP 96) 》

Tasted at the Mouton-Rothschild vertical in London, the 2012 Mouton-Rothschild clearly has the upper hand over the 2011, if not quite at the level of the 2009, 2010 and what I envisage will be the 2015. There is obviously greater fruit intensity here, as if the contrast has been dialed up a couple of notches. It is quite showy on the nose, preening in its infancy with pure black cherries, graphite and hints of cold slate-like scents, later that hint of seaweed I observed when tasted blind a few months earlier. The palate is beautifully balanced with great vim and vigor. This is a Mouton that will not be put down - vivacious, vivid and delineated with wonderful focus and crucially, impressive persistence on the finish. Do not underestimate this Mouton-Rothschild, because I can see an upswing as it matures in bottle. Tasted April 2016.

~ 96 Points, Neal Martin, Wine Advocate, April 2016

Tasted blind at the 2012 Southwold tasting, the 2012 Mouton-Rothschild showed magnificently (as it subsequently did in a vertical just a few weeks later). It has an open, intense bouquet with pencil lead and cedar infusing the black fruit, tertiary in style at first but then transforming with aeration to a more marine-influenced bouquet—seaweed and iodine. The palate is medium-bodied with supple ripe blackberry and boysenberry fruit. The tannins are ripe and fine, the acidity very well judged with a velvety, detailed finish that lingers long in the mouth. Density and harmony combine to make a stunning Mouton-Rothschild that should be afforded 15 years in bottle. It might be destined to be one of those wines forever eclipsed by recent outstanding vintages. Tasted January 2016.

~ 96 Points, Neal Martin, Wine Advocate, January 2016

As for the 2012 Mouton Rothschild, one can’t help but love the artist’s label, in this case done by Miquel Barceló, of two rams fighting for superiority. Representing only 49% of the crop, this blend of 90% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Merlot and 2% Cabernet Franc has an inky bluish/purple color, which is far darker than its nearby neighbor, Lafite Rothschild, or even Pontet-Canet. Multi-layered, with rich, concentrated, crème de cassis fruit, a medium to full-bodied mouthfeel, and stunning purity, this is a major success in 2012. Definitely a bigger, richer wine than rival Lafite Rothschild, Mouton’s 2012 seems to have more density as well. The tannins, however, remain soft and well-integrated. This wine should drink well for 25-30 years and is somewhat of a sleeper for a 2012 first-growth Médoc.

~ 94 Points, Robert M. Parker, Jr., Wine Advocate, Apr 2015

The 2012 Mouton-Rothschild has turned out well. Primarily all Cabernet Sauvignon, it exhibits a dense blue/purple color as well as lots of crème de cassis, incense and forest floor. Full-bodied and dense with sweet tannin, it is a surprisingly successful wine for this vintage. Give it another 5-8 years of cellaring and drink it over the following three decades.

~ 95 Points, Robert M. Parker, Jr., Wine Advocate, Dec 2014

《 Château La Mission Haut-Brion Rouge 2012 (RP 96) 》

Tasted blind at the Southwold 2012 tasting, the 2012 La Mission Haut-Brion showed brilliantly. It has an intense, floral bouquet with rose petals and strawberry preserve, hints of sous-bois and tobacco gently unfolding in the glass, gaining more earthiness as it aerates in the glass. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannin, broad and spicy with hints of bell pepper suggesting high quality Cabernet Franc. It fans out gloriously with a sustained tertiary finish that completes what is a wondrous La Mission Haut-Brion from Jean-Philippe Delmas and his team. Tasted January 2012.

~ 96 Points by Neal Martin, Wine Advocate, Jan 2012

《 Château Cheval Blanc 2012 (RP 95+) 》

Medium to deep garnet colored, the 2012 Cheval Blanc reveals lovely cassis, warm black cherries and redcurrant jelly notions with underlying hints of cedar chest, garrigue, Indian spices and damp soil. Medium to full-bodied, it possesses wonderful energy and freshness on the palate with a beautifully poised ethereal nature and long mineral-tinged finish. This elegantly crafted beauty should enter its drinking window in a couple of years and cellar gracefully for another 20+ years.

~ 95+ Points, Lisa Perrotti-Brown, Wine Advocate, Sep 2018

《 Château Pétrus 2012 (RP 96+) 》

Tasted blind at the Southwold 2012 tasting, the 2012 Petrus demonstrated a forward, fruit-driven, ripe raspberry and wild strawberry bouquet underneath which lies graphite and forest floor aromas. It seems refined, understated, nonchalant even. The palate is medium-bodied with a slightly savory opening, as if there was a tiny drop of Cabernet Franc. The tannins are fine but firm, the red fruit infused with cooked meat, black pepper and sage notes, although I was anticipating a finish armed with more body. That may well develop in time, yet it remains a regal Pomerol that will probably merit a higher score with bottle age, hence the plus-sign against the score. Tasted January 2016.

~ 96+ Points, Neal Martin, Wine Advocate, Oct 2016

1 BOTTLE x《 Château Lafite Rothschild 2012 (RP 91) 》

1 BOTTLE x《 Château Margaux 2012 (RP 96) 》

1 BOTTLE x《 Château Haut-Brion Rouge 2012 (RP 96+) 》

1 BOTTLE x《 Château Mouton Rothschild 2012 (RP 96) 》

1 BOTTLE x《 Château La Mission Haut-Brion Rouge 2012 (RP 96) 》

1 BOTTLE x《 Château Cheval Blanc 2012 (RP 95+) 》

1 BOTTLE x《 Château Pétrus 2012 (RP 96+) 》

♦ Grape Varieties

《 Château Lafite Rothschild 2012 (RP 91) 》

91% Cabernet Sauvignon

8.5% Merlot

0.5% Petit Verdot

《 Château Margaux 2012 (RP 96) 》

87% Cabernet Sauvignon

10% Merlot

2% Cabernet Franc

1% Petit Verdot

《 Château Haut-Brion Rouge 2012 (RP 96+) 》

65% Merlot

33% Cabernet Sauvignon

2% Cabernet Franc

《 Château Mouton Rothschild 2012 (RP 96) 》

90% Cabernet Sauvignon

8% Merlot

2% Cabernet Franc

《 Château La Mission Haut-Brion Rouge 2012 (RP 96) 》

62% Merlot

38% Cabernet Sauvignon

《 Château Cheval Blanc 2012 (RP 95+) 》

53% Merlot

45% Cabernet Franc

2% Cabernet Sauvignon

《 Château Pétrus 2012 (RP 96+) 》

100% Merlot