A flat-out gorgeous wine in the vintage is the 2012 Troplong Mondot, which sports an inky ruby/purple color to go with heavenly notes of black currants, smoked earth, plums, licorice and graphite. Full-bodied, seamless...

(98+ points) Bottled under a black label to celebrate Pavie’s addition to the Grand Cru Classé “A” classification, the 2012 Chateau Pavie is a brilliant wine, and readers with bottles in their cellars are in for a treat...

(WE93-95 points) Barrel sample. This is a finely balanced wine that’s ripe and structured at the same time. It has richness and spice, with a powerful context of wood, juicy blackberry fruits and delicious acidity. With...

Mind-bending aromas of red licorice, spices, bark and dark fruits. Yet reserved and balanced. The palate is phenomenal with compact fruit and polished tannins. It goes on for minutes. 62% merlot and 28% cabernet franc...

This has an almost Burgundian bouquet, in which forest-berry notes mingle with an aroma of wet earth in fall. The roasted character surely comes from new oak casks. Medium-bodied and rather sleek, the fine tannins now...

Such purity of fruit to this wine with plum, currant and berry character. Solid core of fruit and fine tannins. Full and balanced. Very successful for the vintage. Better in 2017.

(91–93 points) Barrel sample. This spicy wine, aged in new wood, is rich and full with blackberry flavors. It's opulent in texture with layers of new oak that reverberate through the wine. ROGER VOSS