The 2012 Dominus is a wild, exotic wine. Harvest began on October 9 and finished on the 21st, very late by present-day standards. Ripe red cherry, kirsch, cinnamon, rose petal, incense and rose petal soar out of the...

Deep garnet in color, the 2012 Canon storms out of the glass with powerful notes of baked blackberries, prunes, and scorched earth leading to hints of sandalwood and tobacco with a waft of dried herbs. The medium to...

The 2012 Lafite Rothschild is medium to deep garnet colored. It struts its stuff with very spicy, exotic notes and wafts of incense over a core of creme de cassis, stewed plums, and fruitcake, plus a licorice and tar...

Aromas and flavors of tar, berries and dark chocolate. Full body, relatively firm tannins and a finish that fills the palate. Well done. Second wine of Lynch-Bages.

Fragrant, scented and full of charm, but lighter than its richer stablemate Château Clerc Milon, tasted at the same time. This was a good vintage from the Mouton Rothschild stable, and the team there read it well. Remains...

The 2012 Trotte Vieille has an attractive bouquet with blackberry, raspberry, cedar and light liquorice aromas that blossom in the glass. This has better delineation than its peers. The palate is medium-bodied with gentle...

Dried flowers, pot pourri nuances on the nose - so aromatic and perfumed. Dried fruit, cherries and cranberries but with baked and stewed red berry fruit too and fresh red cherries alongside caramel, coffee and dark...

Medium to deep garnet colored, the 2012 Malartic Lagraviere Rouge features expressive scents of baked plums and stewed cherries with hints of dried herbs, unsmoked cigars, and mossy tree bark. The medium-bodied palate...

A fine clear crimson colour. The bouquet is taking time to emerge. Is there perhaps a hint of brett in this bottle – it is something I have very rarely found chez Rousseau. There is something that softens and sweetens the...

The fruity strawberry, cherry and raspberry notes are firm and inviting, gaining depth and persistence. Ends with gripping tannins and a stemmy note. Drink now through 2022. – JL

The 2012 du Tertre has a well-defined nose: fully-mature with hoisin, dark plum and a light, ferrous edge, not powerful but focused. The palate is well balanced with saturated tannins, fine acidity, quite cohesive and...

Open and ready to drink, this 2012 has approachable fluidity and suppleness, its lifted mulberry and blackberry aromas entangled with cedar and spice. A silky mouthfeel is peppered with flavours of tomato leaf and driving...

Looking at the three Syrahs, these are all incredible efforts that go screaming past anything else even close to this price point. The 2012 Syrah Estate Verna’s offers a vibrant purple color to go with a full-bodied...

A supple, plush and expressive red, layering currant, plum, sage and white chocolate flavors on a polished frame. Shows tremendous presence, lingering deftly on the open-weave finish. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Syrah...

As with the 2011, this is pretty much ready to go, although a very different style, with fatter fruits, less elegant but more fruit-forward, enjoyable ripe blackberries and blueberries, touches of liqourice and smoked...

Firm in texture, with sandy tannins around a spicy core of red berry and cherry flavors, picking up hints of white pepper and cinnamon as the finish lingers. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Malbec. Best...

This is the second vintage of this wine from the winery’s young estate property. A blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Malbec, it’s locked up at present with aromas of coffee, graphite, cherry, barrel...

The 2012 La Tour Carnet is gorgeous. Dark red stone fruits, flowers and sweet spices are some of the notes that inform this soft, pliant wine. I expect the 2012 will develop a further range of exotic aromas and flavors as...