2012 Wine from France

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, 97 points: My favorite of the lineup, the 2012 Côtes du Roussillon Villages Le Clos des Fées is a sensational effort that’s most likely the wine of the vintage. Made from 50% Syrah, 20% Grenache, 20% Carignan and the rest Mourvèdre...

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, 96 points: The 2012 is another truly great wine from Troplong Mondot. It’s always sentimental to taste this wine, realizing that proprietress Christine Valette (the larger-than-life heart and soul behind this estate) has passed...

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, 91 points: More serious than the Premices, the 2012 Châteauneuf du Pape Tradition has additional structure and depth, with classic red and black fruits, leather, bouquet garni and spice aromas and flavors. Medium-bodied, nicely...

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, 95 points: One of the wines of the vintage, the 2014 Cotes du Roussillon la Vignon is the top wine of the estate and is a barrel selection of 60% Grenache, 30% Syrah and 10% Carignan, all from the Aspres region of the Roussillon. It...

jamessuckling.com, 96 points: Just over two-thirds pinot noir (Verzenay) and the balance southeast-facing chardonnay from Chouilly. This has 30% of oak fermentation which has compressed the wine, lending it an air of extreme concentration. The nose is...

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, 94 points: An impressive, strong effort from Lynsolence, this wine, which normally is 100% Merlot, tipping the scale at 14.5%, has an almost opaque bluish/purple color that is followed by a full-bodied, very concentrated...

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, 93 points: Tasted blind at the annual "Burgfest" tasting in Beaune. The 2012 Clos de Vougeot Grand Cru from Louis Jadot has a lifted, licorice-tinged bouquet with plenty of guts to it. There aromatics do not hold back. The palate is...

jamessuckling.com, 97 points: The nose has a complex array of fine-ground eastern spices, strong cardamom, fine dark chocolate and ripe black cherries and plums. There's even some licorice. It has a neatly composed and elegant feel on the palate. It...

Vinous, 92 points: (AG90-92 points) Sweet spices, dried flowers, rose petals, mint and licorice all meld together in the 2012 Echezeaux. This is the roundest and most polished of the four Grand Crus in the range. Silky tannins support the...

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, 96 points: Previously unreviewed by The Wine Advocate, the 2012 Chateauneuf du Pape Cuvee Laurence is 80% Grenache, 6% Syrah, 4% Mourvèdre and the balance a mix of other authorized varieties. After approximately four years in...

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, 94 points: The 2012 L'Etoile Cuvée Spéciale is like a mini Vin Jaune, a riper year than 2013, with more volume in the palate and a stronger effect of the aging under the veil of yeasts. It aged for no less than four years under the...

Decanter, 91 points: A large estate with a young owner, embodying a contemporary style – and excellent value. Age is just starting to give some woodsy, autumn leaf characters to the loganberry fruit. Pure, precise and medium-bodied. Drinking...

View From The Cellar, 93 points: (93+) While the 2012 Clos Prieur was a bit reduced, the Petite Chapelle was hitting on all cylinders and it was simply a pleasure to taste such a great young bottle of Gevrey premier cru. The deep, pure and still quite...

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, 95 points: A true blockbuster, the Grenache-dominated 2012 IGP Vaucluse comes all from clay and limestone soils around Rasteau, and spent 24-36 months in a combination of foudres and demi-muids. Loaded with notions of black...