2012 Wine

Wine Spectator, 95 points: Extravagant, yet balanced and refined, with lush, crisp brioche, fresh ginger and spice, roasted hazelnut and Asian pear flavors that fan out on the lengthy finish. Drink now through 2020. From California.—T.F

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, 94 points: Another big-time winner, and one of their larger cuvées of just over 9,000 cases is the 2012 Brut Rosé. This is a blend of 76% Pinot Noir and 24% Chardonnay, of which 33% was barrel fermented. This wine is ripe, broad...

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, 93 points: The 2012 Aglianico del Vulture Covo dei Briganti is a gorgeous expression with dark fruit tones of blackberry and currant that are smoothed out by tobacco, leather and dusty mineral tones. Cove dei Briganti pays homage to...

jamessuckling.com, 96 points: I like the ripe-fruit and smoked-meat aromas to this. Subtle and complex. Medium to full body, firm and silky tannins and a long and chewy finish. Needs time to soften. Very structured for the vintage. Better in 2020.

Vinous, 93 points: The 2012 Pinot Noir Gaps Crown is one of the darker, more powerful Pinots I have tasted from Wind Gap. Violets, lavender, black cherries, menthol and licorice flesh out in an ample, structured Pinot full of personality...

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...

jamessuckling.com, 93 points: Bright and vivid with crushed raspberries and orange peel on the nose. Full body, tight and solid tannins and a long and flavorful finish. Pretty austerity. Better in 2019 when the tannins soften.

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...

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...

Wine Enthusiast, 95 points: (93–95) Barrel sample. Full bodied and ripe, this wine is marked by smoky character, spiciness and full-throttle tannins. Blackberry fruits on the palate complement this serious structure. Obviously a long-term wine.

Burghound, 91 points: There is enough wood to notice surrounding the earthy and brooding dark berry fruit and game suffused aromas. As one might reasonably expect there is markedly better richness and mid-palate concentration to the...

jebdunnuck.com, 97 points: As with the ’14, the 2012 Syrah Rodgers Creek Vineyard saw a whopping 10% Viognier. It’s still young and offers a sensational perfume of currants, smoked meats, olives, spices, and crushed flowers. It’s a full-bodied...

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...

View From The Cellar, 95 points: (JG94-95+ points) The 2012 Clos de Bèze had been bottled at the end of October, but was still showing very well in mid-November, wafting from the glass in a superb aromatic constellation of black cherries, cassis...