Contents. Introduction... 1 Bordeaux Vins Rouges... 7 Vins Blancs Sauternes Bordeaux Region Map Bottle Limits

Contents Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Bordeaux 101 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Vins Rouges . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ...
Author: Stuart Barnett
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Contents Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Bordeaux 101 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Vins Rouges . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Vins Blancs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38 Sauternes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42 Bordeaux Region Map . . . . . . . . 44 Bottle Limits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46

Wine cellar of famous Château Pétrus

The 2012 Bordeaux Release

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he morning of Saturday October 3rd, select BC Liquor Stores will begin selling their purchases of 2012 Bordeaux. The Bordeaux Release is a key part of the calendar year, marking the beginning of the autumn and kicking off our busiest season. This is the time to build your own cellar with age-worthy wines or to consider gifts for the upcoming holidays. Hundreds of people will line up in order to stake their claim on the rarest wines of the year and some are already cruising the aisles developing their strategy. Hopefully this booklet will help you do some advance planning whether it is from home, in the line-up or in the store. Our Product Consultants, who have been through intensive training and tasting of the 2012 vintage, will be pleased to advise you during your preparation as well as on release day. Overall purchases were very focused for this release and a strict selection was done to pick the wines that best represent their classifications and appellations. 2012 was a year that resulted in plummy Merlot-based wines, structured Cabernet Sauvignon and crisp whites. In recent tastings (the first since we did the selection 2+ years ago!), the wines were showing surprising ripeness and accessibility. While many are pleasing now, almost all of them will benefit from short-term aging. The great ones will hold more than a decade. The Merlot-based wines of the Right Bank are considered to be very successful in 2012 with good balance between ripe fruit and full body. The appellation of Pomerol, in particular, is noted by many experts as one of the best areas of the vintage. While the quantity of Pomerol is always restricted, we have secured our best-loved Châteaux for the release including Clinet, La Conseillante, Plince and, in miniscule quantities, Pétrus. Other great finds from the Right Bank include St. Émilion Châteaux La Serre and Puy Blanquet as well as Côtes de Castillon property Domaine de l’A. Another region that excelled in 2012 was the area just to the south of Bordeaux city, Pessac Léognan. In this area the dry whites are prized as much as the reds and we have a good selection of famous

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examples including Smith Haut Lafitte & Domaine de Chevalier. If you are new to the lime flower and crème brulee scents of white Bordeaux, this is a great year to start experimenting with well-priced classics like Châteaux Carbonnieux and La Garde. The reds are also showing well from Pessac with mineral notes and a mixture of red and black fruit. Tannins are firm to support the fruit but supple enough for most wines to be enjoyed in the next five years. I love Château Haut Bergey and Château Olivier for their price/quality ratio, in particular. In the Cabernet-dominated Médoc, we concentrated mostly on Classed Growth wines for this release. For these top Châteaux, rigorous selection and adherence to quality are the objectives in every vintage. The 2012s will not disappoint. Cabernet lends a spicy cedar note to the wine along with chalky tannins and the ability to age. As in every year, BC Liquor Stores’ relationships have allowed us to source the very famous, most highly rated wines of the vintage. We have tiny allocations of the first growths (Margaux, Haut Brion, Lafite Rothschild and Mouton Rothschild). 2012 was the first vintage Château Latour did not release en primeur but look for older vintages of this great wine to appear at other points in the year. Bordeaux 2012 wines and Product Consultant expertise will be concentrated in 12 Signature Stores this year, though information regarding the release is available systemwide. The participating stores are: Cambie & 39th, Richmond Brighouse, Park Royal, Alberni & Bute, Dunbar, Fort Street, Westwood, Langley, Peninsula Village, Kelowna Orchard Park, Kamloops Columbia Place and Prince George Pine Centre. We’ll see you there! Barbara Philip MW Category Manager BC Liquor Stores

Drinkability Legend

DRINK NOW: can be enjoyed now



DRINK OR HOLD: can be enjoyed now but may also be matured further by cellaring



HOLD: ideal for further cellaring

Numbering All wines have been numbered for ease of reference. Those products whose name is followed by (L) are subject to bottle limits. Bottle Limits are found on page 46.

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Bordeaux 101 Vertical Tasting One of the fascinating things about Bordeaux wine is the variation between vintages. Some warm weather vintages will make rich, full-bodied and fruit-driven wines while cooler vintages often result in more earthy, dried herbal and savoury wines. Conducting a vertical tasting consists of getting together a number of different vintages of the same wine and comparing them. Being able to create vertical tastings is one of the benefits of having a cellar and buying the same wines every vintage. Taste blind and see if you can taste the difference in cooler versus warmer years. Storing Bordeaux Wine Many Bordeaux wines are known for their ability to age, so it is important that they are stored correctly. The key element of storage is to have a cool, constant temperature, ideally around 13-14°C (55-57°F). The constant part is more important than the exact temperature. This allows a wine to age gracefully, developing all the complex flavours and aromas you would expect. The wine should be kept away from bright light that may heat the wine or fade the labels and anything sealed with a cork should be on its side to keep the cork from drying out. You may be lucky enough to have a cool basement with ideal cellaring conditions or you may choose to purchase a wine cooler that controls temperature and humidity. Great Pairings with Bordeaux While the vast majority of Bordeaux wine is dry red, there are some high quality dry white and sweet botrytis-affected dessert wines such as Sauternes that are also produced. Red Bordeaux – the wines have structure and power and are best paired with robust red meats. Classic pairings are roast or grilled beef or roast leg of lamb. Wines that have some age pair well with roast game birds or duck. White Bordeaux – often with some oak aging and rich yet still refreshing, these are best paired with rich white fish, lobster or roast chicken stuffed with lemons. Sauternes – rich and sweet, these wines pair beautifully with peach, pear or apple based desserts, crème brûlée and foie gras and blue cheese for savoury options.

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Decanting There are two basic reasons for decanting wine. The first is to remove any sediment that has formed during the aging process. The second is to aerate a young wine to hopefully soften up some of its rough edges and make it taste smoother and smell more aromatic. To aerate a young wine, simply pour the bottle into a decanter, not worrying if it splashes in and gets plenty of air. To remove sediment, a bottle should first sit upright for around 24 hours to let any sediment gently settle to the bottom. Carefully open the bottle without shaking up the sediment. Pour the wine slowly and steadily into the decanter, watching the shoulder of the bottle and stopping when you see sediment appearing or when the wine looks cloudy. Old corks can often crumble in which case you can use a filter to catch any pieces of cork. A candle or flashlight shining on the shoulder of the bottle makes it easier to see the sediment. A general rule is that the older and more delicate the wine, the shorter the time should be between decanting and serving as older wines can lose their freshness quickly. Right Bank or Left Bank? Bordeaux is situated around the Gironde estuary and its two rivers the Dordogne and Garonne. The area west of the Gironde and Garonne is known as the Left Bank while the Right Bank is the name used for the vineyards located on the north and east side of Gironde and the river Dordogne. In between the two rivers is Entre-Deux-Mers. The Left Bank is where Cabernet Sauvignon is usually the dominant variety in the red blends and is the home of the famous appellations of the Médoc such as Saint-Estéphe, Pauillac, St-Julien and Margaux as well of those further south – PessacLéognan and Graves. The Right Bank Châteaux are generally smaller and the climate and soils are more suited to Merlot and Cabernet Franc rather than Cabernet Sauvignon. The famous appellations of the Right Bank are Saint-Emilion and Pomerol. Rhys Pender MW

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Vins Rouges 1.

Château Angélus, St-Émilion (L)

“The 2012 Angélus (55% Merlot, 45% Cabernet Franc) is inky bluish purple in color and exhibits blueberry and blackberry fruit intermixed with some licorice, charcoal and graphite. It is full-bodied, ripe, and a great, great success for this estate. The tannins are silky and soft, and the wine can be drunk now or over the next 15 or more years.” 95 pts, Wine Advocate 346536

bottle limit 2

$500

2. Château Ausone, St-Émilion (L) “One can’t say enough about the amazing job that Alain Vauthier and his daughter have done at this historic property on the decomposed limestone slopes of St-Émilion. Not surprisingly, the 2012 Ausone is one of the candidates for the wine of the vintage. Inky purple in color, with notes of crushed rocks, spring flowers and blueberry and black raspberry, the wine grows on the palate, offering up amazing concentration. Drink it 2022-2050+” 96+ pts, Wine Advocate 388694

bottle limit 2

$1,200

3. Château d’Armailhac, Pauillac “Part of the empire of the Chateau Mouton Rothschild, this estate was once known as Mouton Baronne Philippe. This impressive, deep, opaque ruby/purple wine, with loads of charcoal, crème de cassis and a flowery-ness, this is rich, medium to full-bodied, beautifully textured, quite pure, and avoids any of the astringency or hollowness that some Médocs possess in this vintage. The wine is complete and finishes authoritatively. The tannins are there, but ripe, integrated and velvety.” 91 pts, Wine Advocate 346593

$78

Prices shown are for 750 ml bottles unless otherwise specified. Prices do not include applicable taxes and are subject to change without notice. In the event of any errors or inaccuracies published in this booklet, the product description and display price in the liquor store will prevail. Some products may not be available on the release date due to late shipping and customs processing.

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4. Château Beau-Séjour Bécot, St-Émilion “A spectacular wine from this nearly 50-acre vineyard situated atop St-Émilion’s famed limestone plateau, the final blend for the 2012 Beau-Sejour Becot was 70% Merlot, 24% Cabernet Franc and 6% Cabernet Sauvignon… One of the stars of the vintage, it is elegant yet powerful, rich and authoritative with abundant black raspberry, blueberry, graphite and toasty vanillin notes. Fullbodied and super rich for a 2012, it is packed with potential.” 92-95 pts, Wine Advocate 385526

$99

5. Château Belgrave, Haut-Médoc “Beautiful nose showing concentrated ripe fruits. This is a fullbodied red with velvety tannins, lovely acidity and a long, fruity finish. Well done for the vintage. Drink from 2017” 91 pts, James Suckling 165241 $50

6. Château Beychevelle, St.-Julien (L) “The grand vin, the 2012 Beychevelle, is one of the stars of St.-Julien. Opaque purple, with beautiful crème de cassis notes, the wine has floral underpinnings, sweet tannin and a nice layered, multi-dimensional mouthfeel. This is elegant and powerful, rich and intense, but light on its feet. This is a great Beychevelle and certainly seems to exceed the vintage’s character and expectations. Give it 4-6 years of bottle age and drink it over the following 25-30 years.” 92+ pts, Wine Advocate 369777

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bottle limit 1

$120

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7. Château Le Boscq, St-Estèphe The famous Dourthe firm produces this well-known St-Estèphe, which often has a big chunk of Merlot in it. The 2012 Le Boscq is a dense ruby/purple wine with good flesh, ripe black cherry and blackcurrant fruit, medium body, light tannin and a nice lusty, heady finish. This is a relatively sexy wine that will develop nicely over the next 10-12 years. 87 pts, Wine Advocate 109009 $39

8. Château Branaire Ducru, St-Julien “Deep ruby/purple, with sweet cranberry, mulberry and raspberry/blueberry fruit, this is always a distinctive St.-Julien and the 2012 has managed to avoid any of the hollowness or harsh tannins that can afflict some of the Médocs. It is elegant, well-made and an outstanding effort in this vintage. 90 pts, Wine Advocate 346601

$80

9. Château Brane-Cantenac, Margaux “It is hard not to give kudos to proprietor Henri Lurton, as he’s done such a great job at this famous estate in Margaux. The 2012 has an opaque ruby/purple color and beautifully sweet, velvety tannins. It had to be more difficult achieving this level in the Médoc in 2012 than in Graves or the Right Bank sectors of Pomerol and St.-Émilion. With a lush, supple texture, medium to full body, and beautiful flowery blackcurrant and black cherry fruit, this opaque wine is pure and impressively endowed.” 91 pts, Wine Advocate 346635

$85

10. Château Branon, Pessac-Léognan “This is nicely packed and has good energy, with lots of blackberry, boysenberry and black currant paste flavors, carried by briary yet integrated grip. Finishes vividly, showing mouthwatering anise and fruitcake notes. Best from 2017 through 2025.” 92 pts, Wine Spectator 346684 $118

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11. Château Calon Ségur, St. Estèphe “Dense but pure, offering suave plum, raspberry coulis and black currant fruit, and tobacco, tar and iron nuances. This is integrated and refined through the long finish, but lacks the vintage’s austerity. Very nicely done. Best from 2017 through 2025.” 93 pts, Wine Spectator 346734 $120

12. Château Canon, St-Émilion “The 2012 is the first truly profound Canon under the administration of the Wertheimers, the family that owns the famous haute couture house of Chanel. Improvement has been noticeable for a number of years, but this wine is remarkable, particularly in view of a more challenging vintage. The color is a healthy dark ruby/purple, and the wine offers up great minerality along with floral, black-fruited characteristics.” 92+ pts, Wine Advocate 369447 $115

13. Château Canon la Gaffelière, St-Émilion “The dense ruby/purple 2012 offers pure blackcurrant and black cherry fruit along with some notes of Christmas spices and earth. It is full-bodied and opulent, with light tannins in the finish. This is a beauty of impeccable balance, great purity and texture.” 93 pts, Wine Advocate 346742 $120

14. Carruades de Lafite, Pauillac (L) “This has a streamlined feel, offering dark cherry and steeped currant fruit flecked with tobacco and dark anise accents, carrying through a smoky finish. Shows a notably silky edge for the vintage. Drink now through 2022.” 90 pts, Wine Spectator 346775

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bottle limit 1

$388

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15. La Chapelle de La Mission Haut-Brion, Pessac-Léognan “The beautiful second wine, the 2012 La Chapelle de La Mission Haut-Brion, has a dense ruby/purple color, sweet raspberry and blackcurrant fruit, subtle earth and spice, supple tannins and an opulent fleshy mouthfeel. It is a terrific second wine and outstanding in its own right.” 90 pts, Wine Advocate 370692 $99

16. Château Certan de May, Pomerol (L) “From proprietress Odette Barrau-Badar, this vineyard, which is fabulously located just adjacent to Vieux Château Certan, Pétrus and La Fleur-Pétrus, has produced a 2012 with a dark plum/ purple color. There is often considerable Cabernet Franc in this blend, and I think that comes through in this wine with its notes of forest floor, earth and spice. It is fragrant, medium to full-bodied, rich and savory.” 91 pts, Wine Advocate 970707

bottle limit 2

$129

17. Château Cheval Blanc, St-Émilion (L) “This wine is gorgeous in all facets, offering a simultaneously loamy and creamy mouthfeel, seamless layers of red and black currant, cherry, raspberry and blackberry fruit, and a long, tobacco-fueled finish that features alluring hints of black tea and incense. The fruit and terroir shine in this broad, deep and defined style. Best from 2018 through 2030.” 95 pts, Wine Spectator 224402

bottle limit 2

2012 BordeauX

$1,200

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18. Château Clerc Milon, Pauillac “This is another strong effort from the Mouton Rothschild stable and its excellent administrator Philippe Dhalluin. The 2012 Clerc Milon has an almost blackish-blue opaque color, soft tannins, ripe notes of blackcurrants, licorice and subtle background oak. There is an attractive floral, licorice quality to the fruit. The wine is medium to full-bodied and beautifully pure with ripe tannin. It is soft enough to be approachable in several years and should drink well for 20.” 92 pts, Wine Advocate 346783

$88

19. Château Clinet, Pomerol “With a dense purple color and gorgeous levels of fruit, especially black raspberry and blackcurrant, this full-bodied, opulent style of wine is another great success for Clinet, a château that has been on top of its game for the last decade. This is stunning stuff, and whatever new oak has been used – and there is plenty – it is totally disguised by the luxurious and extravagant fruit level.” 95 pts, Wine Advocate 920561 $150

20. Clos de l’Oratoire, St-Émilion “One of the von Neipperg estates, the 2012 Clos de l’Oratoire is an undeniable success story. Dense ruby/purple, with plenty of crème de cassis, roasted coffee, licorice and spice, full-bodied, opulent and sexy, it is a hedonist’s dream wine. Pure and long, it has a great finish and terrific palate presence. Drink it over the next 12-15 years.” 94 pts, Wine Advocate 547059

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$69

2012 BordeauX

21. Clos du Marquis, St-Julien “The wine is pure with lots of crème de cassis, crushed rock and vanillin characteristics in its long, medium to full-bodied personality. Given the fact that this vineyard was once part of the larger Leoville Las Cases estate, it is no surprise that it is similar to its more famous as well as more expensive cousin. A strong effort in this vintage, it should drink well for 15-20 years.” 91-93 pts, Wine Advocate 346817

$88

22. Clos Fourtet, St-Émilion “The 2012 Clos Fourtet (usually 85% Merlot and 15% Cabernet Franc) has beautiful blackberry and blueberry fruit and an inky purple color. With flawless integration of acidity, tannin, wood and alcohol, a full-bodied mouthfeel and stunning richness, this is impressive and certainly one of the vintage’s top wines. It should evolve beautifully for 15-20 years, and be drinkable in 3-4.” 95 pts, Wine Advocate



346841 $150

23. Clos l’Église, Pomerol “On the chunkier side for now, with ganache and espresso notes lending a lightly firm frame to the crushed plum and blackberry fruit. There’s plenty of flesh here as well, and a roasted earth accent on the finish. Should knit together with cellaring. Best from 2017 through 2025.” 92 pts, Wine Spectator 346874 $125

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24. Château La Conseillante, Pomerol “An absolutely amazing wine from the Nicolas family, this is from another estate in Pomerol that is pushing the envelope to higher and higher quality. The final blend has moved to smaller amounts of Cabernet Franc, now approximately 20%, with the balance 80% Merlot. Through crop-thinning, yields have been reduced to an average of 35 hectoliters per hectare. Inky bluish/purple color and stunning sweet tannins embrace a full-bodied opulent Pomerol with beautiful, floral-infused black raspberry, blueberry and cassis fruit. Full-bodied, yet elegant, this is a brilliant marriage between finesse and power. Stunningly pure, this wine can be drunk young or age magnificently for 20 or more years.” 96 pts, Wine Advocate 346882 $180

25. Château Cos d’Estournel, St-Estèphe “The 2012 Cos d’Estournel is a classic expression of St-Estèphe, with notes of graphite, crushed rock, blackberry, blackcurrant fruit, a medium to full-bodied mouthfeel, structured, but wellintegrated tannins and a long finish of 35 seconds or more. This is a beauty and an undeniable top success in the Médoc for 2012. Give it 4-6 years of cellaring and drink it over the following two decades or more.” 93+ pts, Wine Advocate 252478, 346890

$280

26. Domaine de Chevalier, Pessac-Léognan “Very floral and elegant with raspberry and blackcurrant fruit mixed with toasty oak/vanillin, followed by a medium to full-bodied, stylish, polished wine that is the quintessentially refined style of Pessac-Léognan. Nevertheless, the complexity and nuance has yet to fully emerge. This medium to fullbodied Domaine de Chevalier is poised for a bright future. It is tight and backward now, as well as restrained aromatically, but everything is there for the future.” 92+, Wine Advocate 346957

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$90

2012 BordeauX

27. Domaine de l’A, Côtes de Castillon “Well built, with solid density for the vintage, this lets a core of dark plum sauce, steeped currant and blackberry coulis play out, while hints of charcoal, anise and smoldering tobacco line the fleshy finish. Drink now through 2018.” 90 pts, Wine Spectator 370445

$50

28. Château La Dominique, St-Émilion “This is a gorgeous, hedonistic, yet complex La Dominique with an inky purple color, oodles of blue, red and black fruits, sweet tannin, a generous, opulent, full-bodied mouthfeel, and a long finish. This 2012 is sensational and further evidence of the rebound of La Dominique after a few years of mediocrity. It is a sleeper of the vintage to be drunk over the next 15 years.” 93 pts, Wine Advocate 347005

$68

29. Château Ducru Beaucaillou, St-Julien (L) “Offers an almost lavish feel, with layers of warmed fig, blackberry paste and raspberry coulis lined with ganache, anise and fruitcake flavors. A rock-solid graphite note lines the finish, showing just the slightest twinge of the vintage’s austerity.” 93 pts, Wine Spectator 347047

bottle limit 2

$199

30. Château Duhart Milon, Pauillac “Red currant, cherry and pomegranate notes form the core and flesh out steadily through the finish, picking up apple wood and anise accents along the way. Features polished grip through the finish, with a light echo of loam lending some contrast.” 90 pts, Wine Spectator 347088 $180

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31. Château l’Église Clinet, Pomerol “A gorgeous wine from proprietor Denis Durantou, this blend of 85% Merlot and 15% Cabernet Franc is an inky purple color, with gorgeous purity of black raspberries, blackcurrants and blackberry with a hint of truffle and spring flowers. It is full-bodied, opulent and a tour de force in this vintage. Great presence on the palate, fabulous purity and a long finish make for a magnificent bottle of wine to drink over the next 20-some years.” 96 pts, Wine Advocate 347104 $350

32. Château de Fieuzal, Pessac-Léognan “Rather dark in profile, with pastis-soaked black currant and blackberry fruit at the core, studded with warm fruitcake and ganache notes. The bramble-edged finish lets the slightly exotic display of fruit maintain the upper hand. Best from 2016 through 2022.” 90 pts, Wine Spectator 369553

$59

33. Château Figeac, St-Émilion (L) A beguiling tobacco leaf note weaves up and away from the core of steeped plum and mulled currant fruit, while a sleek iron accent forms the spine and a loamy element creates the backdrop. Shows some pleasant latent grip while the currant detail echoes. Best from 2018 through 2027.” 93 pts, Wine Spectator 347112

bottle limit 2

$180

34. Château Fleur Cardinale, St-Émilion “The flagship wine from the Decoster family, this blend of 80% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Franc and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon has been a hugely successful wine since they acquired this 58-acre estate and revolutionized the level of quality. This is consistently one of the best St-Émilions and over-achieving for its classification. The 2012 has pure, striking aromatics of blueberry, black raspberry, minerals and flowers.” 93 pts, Wine Advocate 370510

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$69

2012 BordeauX

35. Château La Fleur-Pétrus, Pomerol (L) “Christian Moueix and his winemaking team have done a remarkable job over the last decade to bring La Fleur-Pétrus into the league of Pomerol’s titans. Now a worthy rival to Trotanoy, Pétrus, La Fleur, Le Gay, La Violette and Vieux Chateau Certan, the dense ruby/purple 2012 La Fleur-Pétrus has beautiful silky tannins, and stunning rich black cherry and blackcurrant fruit, medium to full-bodied mouthfeel, stunning purity, symmetry and overall character and complexity.” 95 pts, Wine Advocate 956136

bottle limit 2

$200

36. Château La Garde, Pessac-Léognan “Solid and direct, with a graphite-edged core of plum, anise and blackberry coulis flavors, backed by a light juniper echo on the finish.” 89 pts, Wine Spectator 976 $38

37. Château Gazin, Pomerol “This is certainly one of the great 2012s from Pomerol. What’s amazing is that it is 100% Merlot. Readers may have forgotten (or never knew) that a chunk of this vineyard was sold to Pétrus in the early 1970s, but what remains is still a superb terroir and incredibly well-placed on the plateau of Pomerol, adjacent to Pétrus and across the road from Lafleur.” 95 pts, Wine Advocate 957423 $118

38. Château Giscours, Margaux “The plump, rich and densely purple-colored 2012 Giscours, has turned out very well in this vintage, offering loads of fruit. A blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 32% Merlot and the rest Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, it has a moderate finish, and is medium to full-bodied, with excellent licorice and crème de cassis notes, and a broad, round, juicy mouthfeel. This is a wine that can be drunk young or cellared for 12-15 years.” 90 pts, Wine Advocate 462374

2012 BordeauX

$78

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39. Château Gracia, St-Émilion (L) “This estate consistently turns out some of the greatest wines of St-Émilion. Michel Gracia obviously learned a lot from his close friend Alain Vauthier at Ausone. The 2012 Gracia has an opaque bluish/black color and a gorgeous nose of blueberry liqueur intermixed with blackberry, incense, graphite and spice. Medium-bodied and super-concentrated, with well-integrated acidity, tannin and alcohol, this is a big, rich, profound 2012 to drink over the next two decades.” 95+ pts, Wine Advocate 347146

bottle limit 2

$195

40. Château Grand-Puy-Lacoste, Pauillac “Well-built, with a charcoal frame that melds nicely with steeped currant, blackberry paste and dark plum fruit flavors. The long finish is riveted to a graphite underpinning. Remarkably dense, but without the austere twinge of the vintage. Best from 2018 through 2030. ” 93 pts, Wine Spectator 347153

$99

41. Château Gruaud Larose, St-Julien “Inviting, with a fleshy core of plum, blackberry and anise notes, lined with graphite and warm fruitcake hints and supported by a juicy finish that keeps the toast in the background. Drink now through 2020.” 90 pts, Wine Spectator 370064

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$89

2012 BordeauX

42. Château Haut-Bailly, Pessac-Léognan “The classic 2012 Haut-Bailly is staggeringly great wine, with a stunning bouquet of lead pencil shavings, blueberries, black raspberries and blackcurrants and perhaps a touch of spring flowers, followed by a medium to full-bodied wine with an almost seamless integration of wood, alcohol and tannin. It is rich, concentrated, stunningly supple, pure and a total hedonistic and intellectual turn-on. This wine defines what is meant by intensity of flavor, but it is light on its feet, à la great cuisine. It should be drinkable reasonably young, but age effortlessly for 25-30 years.” 96 pts, Wine Advocate 347179 $138

43. Château Haut-Bergey, Pessac-Léognan “The Garcin family has done a fabulous job in Bordeaux with their other estates, such as Barde-Haut and Clos L’Église in Pomerol, as well as with the nearby luxury wine from PessacLéognan–Branon. They produce this wine from gravelly and sandy soils, of 70% Cabernet Sauvignon and 30% Merlot. Attractive, soft cassis and tobacco-leaf notes mixed with licorice and spice are present in this dense ruby/plum wine. It is medium-bodied with soft tannin and a relatively smooth, velvety texture, finish and opulence, giving this wine an upfront appeal, although it should age nicely for 12-15 years.” 90 pts, Wine Advocate 347187

2012 BordeauX

$50

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44. Château Haut-Brion, Pessac-Léognan (L) 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.” 98 pts, Wine Advocate 370684

bottle limit 2

$900

45. Château Hosanna, Pomerol (L) “Close to perfection, this extraordinary blend of 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc seems to have hit all the high notes in 2012. Inky ruby/purple with stunning concentration, a multidimensional mouthfeel, skyscraper-like texture and fabulous purity of blue, red and black fruits, this is a tour de force from this estate owned by Christian Moueix. The potential complexity and sheer compelling quality of Hosanna is amazing. Aromatically, this may be the most profound wine of the vintage. Drink it over the next 15-20 years.” 97 pts, Wine Advocate 718023

bottle limit 1

$190

46. Château d’Issan, Margaux “The 2012 Château d’Issan, builds on the richness of the second wine and adds more body, structure and density. It has an inky purple color and a stunning nose of spring flowers, blueberry and blackberry fruit as well as touches of incense and graphite. Medium to full-bodied and stunningly concentrated, this 2012 is a great success in the vintage, one of the superstars. Moreover, its precociousness suggests it could be drunk in the next 4-5 years or cellared through 2025.” 95 pts, Wine Advocate 193771

20

$85

2012 BordeauX

47. Château Lafite Rothschild, Pauillac (L) “This has a dark, smoky edge from the start, with smoldering tobacco and grilled savory notes lining the core of steeped plum, macerated black currant and lightly mulled cherry fruit. Shows a loamy, smoky edge to the finish, with the tobacco hint peeking out. Features admirable range, depth and grip, with just a twinge of the vintage’s austerity lurking. Best from 2018 through 2030.” 94 pts, Wine Spectator 347302

bottle limit 1

$1,200

48. Château LaFleur Gazin, Pomerol “Alluring raspberry and blueberry fruit glides along easily, with solid yet silky structure and a long, black tea— and Black Forest cake—framed finish. Drink now through 2024.” 91 pts, Wine Spectator 715250

$58

49. Château Lafon Rochet, St-Estèphe “A gusty style, with crushed plum and loganberry fruit, studded with notes of chalk, olive and charcoal. Turns a bit woodsy and chewy through the finish, but has just enough fruit to keep pace. Best from 2016 through 2019.” 88 pts, Wine Spectator 724013

$65

50. Château Larcis Ducasse, St-Émilion “This great terroir, long owned by the Gratiot family, has come to life under the inspired winemaking of Nicolas Thienpont and Stéphane Derenoncourt. Some recent vintages have been legendary efforts, especially 2005, 2008, 2009 and 2010. The 2012 (83% Merlot, 17% Cabernet Franc) is right in the competition, with an inky, opaque, bluish/purple color, gorgeously sweet, rich nose of black raspberries, black cherries and currants, and licorice. The wine hits the palate with a fullbodied, thunderous effect.” 95 pts, Wine Advocate 369710

2012 BordeauX

$95

21

51. Château Lascombes, Margaux “An intriguing blend of 48% Merlot, 48% Cabernet Sauvignon and 4% Petit Verdot, this inky purple-colored wine is ripe, progressively styled, big, rich, thick and juicy. In other words, the 2012 Lascombes is loaded. No doubt the high percentage of Merlot in the final blend gives this wine a fleshiness and succulence that is unusual in the Médoc. Rich, pure and full, it should hit its prime in another 4-5 years and last at least two or three decades.” 94 pts, Wine Advocate 347336 $120

52. Château Latour à Pomerol, Pomerol “A very strong effort from this estate in the Jean-Pierre Moueix stable, this 2012 (14.5% natural alcohol) has a dense ruby/purple color, a big, sweet kiss of mocha, blackcurrants, and black cherries, and notes of truffle and earth. Full-bodied, ripe and one of the great successes from this estate over recent decades, the 2012 is a must-purchase for Pomerol enthusiasts.” 93+ pts, Wine Advocate 951178 $110

53. Château Léoville Barton, St-Julien “Dense ruby/purple, with cassis licorice and forest floors notes in the aromatics, Léoville-Barton’s 2012 is a relatively big, rich, masculine style of wine. This full-bodied wine needs 5-8 years of cellaring and should evolve easily for 25-30 years.” 92 pts, Wine Advocate 347450 $138

54. Château Léoville Las Cases, St-Julien “This is very tight at this early stage, with a wall of smoldering charcoal holding the core of dark plum, blackberry paste and cassis in reserve. The sleek finish shows admirable length and a mouthwatering echo of iron. This harnesses the austerity of the vintage to its advantage, and should unwind slowly in the cellar.” 94 pts, Wine Spectator 347468 $250

22

2012 BordeauX

55. Château Léoville Poyferré, St-Julien “The 2012, a blend of 61% Cabernet Sauvignon, 27% Merlot, 8% Petit Verdot and 4% Cabernet Franc, is opaque purple, thicklooking, and from bottle much more impressive than it was from barrel. This very extracted, rich, full-bodied, masculine Léoville Poyferré needs a good 5-8 years of bottle age and should evolve well for at least 20-25 years. Loads of blackberry and cassis, crushed rock and graphite notes are present in this medium to full-bodied, impressively concentrated and pure wine.” 92+ pts, Wine Advocate 347476 $128

56. Château Lilian Ladouys, St-Estèphe “Fresh, forward plum, blackberry and black cherry fruit bounces along in this red, backed by modest savory and briar notes. A toasted spice edge frames the open-knit finish. Drink now through 2019.” 88 pts, Wine Spectator 370098

$38

57. Château Lynch Bages, Pauillac (L) “This has a very solid core of dark plum, crushed black currant and blackberry fruit, with lightly firm flesh and good drive through the finish, where alder and iron notes fill in. Shows excellent energy and depth, while harnessing the austere edge of the vintage.” 92 pts, Wine Spectator 347559

bottle limit 2

2012 BordeauX

$180

23

58. Château Margaux, Margaux (L) “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.” 95 pts, Wine Advocate 347682

bottle limit 2

$900

59. Château Marquis d’Alesme Becker, Margaux “The flashy, mocha-accented toast melds quickly into the velvety core of plum sauce, blackberry and boysenberry confiture notes. A graphite accent slides through on the finish, adding spine and length. Drink now through 2022.” 90 pts, Wine Spectator 347724

$65

60. Château La Mission Haut-Brion, Pessac-Léognan (L) “As for the 2012 La Mission Haut Brion, this wine (41% of the total production) continues to perform as it has for nearly a century. At first-growth levels of quality, this is s stunning wine that is full-bodied and very concentrated with notes of graphite, subtle charcoal embers, crème de cassis, blackberry and underlying subtle earthiness. The wine is full and powerful, rich and concentrated. And sure enough, the alcohol level tips the scales at 15% from a blend 62% Merlot and 38% Cabernet Franc. This is a big, blockbuster La Mission Haut Brion that should age effortlessly for 30-40+ years.” 97 pts, Wine Advocate 347732

24

bottle limit 2

$500

2012 BordeauX

61. Château Montrose, St-Estèphe (L) “The 2012 Montrose (57% Cabernet Sauvignon and 37% Merlot), is rich, broad, and dense ruby/purple, with substantial tannins still to shed. It is a rather masculine, medium to fullbodied Montrose, with cassis, crushed rock and spice. This wine will need bottle age because of the tannin profile, should hit its prime in another 7-8 years, and last for another 20-25.” 92+ pts, Wine Advocate 291534

bottle limit 2

$168

62. Château Mouton Rothschild, Pauillac (L) “This has a stunningly pure core of plum, black currant and black cherry fruit, with supple yet long structure that has melded wonderfully already. Anise, violet and cassis notes pour in on the finish. The fruit makes it seem almost too easy, but this will cellar well thanks to outstanding balance. A huge but very stylish wine.” 95 pts, Wine Spectator 348417, 373910

bottle limit 2

$900

63. Château Olivier, Pessac-Léognan “Lively bramble and cassis bush notes lead off, followed by juicy plum, blackberry and anise accents. A flash of mesquite lines the slightly toasted finish. Still a touch tight, this should fill out fully with some modest cellaring.” 90 pts, Wine Spectator 842385

$55

64. Château Palmer, Margaux “Château Palmer is one of the vintage’s superstars. Opaque purple, with a gorgeous nose of blueberry, blackberry fruit, licorice, incense and graphite, the wine has a multi-dimensional, skyscraper-like richness, stunningly well-integrated acidity, tannin, wood, and alcohol, a finish of close to 45 seconds and a full-bodied mouthfeel. This is a great wine from Margaux in 2012 and one of the vintage’s most remarkable efforts. Anticipated maturity: 2022-2040+” 96 pts, Wine Advocate 973891, 369462

2012 BordeauX

$399

25

65. Château Pape Clément, Pessac-Léognan “This is truly great wine and not far off their magnificent 2005 and 2010. Full-bodied, with rich cassis, subtle burning embers and spice followed by velvety, well-integrated tannins, the wine is lush, expansive, savory and profound. This is a remarkable wine that could be drunk at a reasonably young age, but should cellar brilliantly for a quarter-century.” 97 pts, Wine Advocate 348425 $160

66. Château Pavie, St-Émilion (L) “The 2012 Pavie celebrates its reclassification and upgrade to Class A St-Émilion by sporting a new black label with gold print. Fortunately, every Pavie has benefitted since Perse began a complete makeover of this estate in 1998. From 47-year-old vines, the 2012 has an inky purple color, judicious toasty oak in the nose interwoven with copious blackberry and blackcurrant fruit, Christmas spices, as well as licorice and graphite.” 95 pts, Wine Advocate 369280

bottle limit 2

$550

67. Château Pavie-Decesse, St-Émilion “This is the quintessential limestone-based wine, with a liquor of powdered chalk mixed with cassis and blackberry. Very concentrated (almost painfully so), this highly extracted, fullbodied, massive, rich and powerful wine needs cellaring. Everything is present for a great future. This is one of the superstars of the vintage… This wine, with its opaque purple color and great density and richness is a connoisseur’s dream. Forget it for 5-8 years and drink it over the following three decades.” 95+ pts, Wine Advocate 369439 $200

28

2012 BordeauX

68. Château Pavie Macquin, St-Émilion “Offers a solid, packed feel, with dense plum sauce, licorice and blackberry preserve flavors, pushed by ganache and graphite details. Despite the dense and fleshy feel, there’s serious purity here. A violet note mingles with a lightly chalky echo through the lengthy finish. A terrific effort for the vintage. Best from 2017 through 2027” 94 pts, Wine Spectator 348433 $118

69. Pavillon Rouge du Château Margaux, Margaux “The second wine of Margaux, the Pavillon Rouge (63% Cabernet Sauvignon, 33% Merlot, and the balance Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot), exhibits more structure and masculinity than one normally expects. It has a deep ruby/purple color, nice floral and blackcurrant notes, some spice box, moderate tannin and medium body. This is a Pavillon Rouge that should admirably stand the test of time for 15-20 years. Its impressively long finish adds to its appeal and value. This wine will actually benefit from several years of bottle age and keep for 20 years.” 90+ pts, Wine Advocate 390187 $200

70. Le Petit Mouton de Mouton Rothschild, Pauillac “The 2012 Le Petit Mouton de Rothschild (79% Cabernet Sauvignon, 19% Merlot, 2% Cabernet Franc) shows loads of charcoal, burning embers, a nice hint of dark chocolate and blackcurrants. It is fleshy and medium-bodied, with up-front fruit and density. This second wine of Mouton has certainly gone from strength to strength under the administration of Philippe Dhalluin. Drink it over the next 15-20 years.” 90 pts, Wine Advocate 647644 $180

2012 BordeauX

29

71. Château Pétrus, Pomerol (L) “One of the stars of the vintage, the wine (100% Merlot) has exceptional concentration, stunning purity, an inky purple color and a broad, expansive mouthfeel. Not a bit heavy, cloying or overwrought, this is a stunning Pétrus (licorice, blackcurrants and truffles dominate) that will probably hit full maturity in 8-10 years and last 25-35. Another great example of this mythical wine that few can afford, virtually no one drinks, but everyone talks about! Relatively high in alcohol at 14.5%, the crop was tiny because of the spring’s poor flowering in this sector of Pomerol.” 96+ pts, Wine Advocate 702936

bottle limit 1

$2,800

72. Château Pichon Baron, Pauillac (L) “As for the big sibling, the 2012 Pichon Baron (80% Cabernet Sauvignon and 20% Merlot) probably has the most saturated purple color of the Pauillacs. Its structure is apparent, and the wine offers a wealth of blackcurrant fruit interwoven with licorice, graphite, and background toasty oak. Full-bodied, opulent and moderately tannic, this wine is approachable now because of its low acidity, but promises to age beautifully for 20+ years” 93 pts, Wine Advocate 348516

bottle limit 2

$180

73. Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande, Pauillac “A gutsy, terroir-driven style, with briar-edged grip carrying notes of macerated black currant fruit, fig and plum sauce. This shows lots of dark anise through the finish, along with notes of roasted apple wood and a hint of cassis bush. Delivers excellent range, purity and energy. Best from 2018 through 2027” 92 pts, Wine Spectator 348532 $180

30

2012 BordeauX

74. Château Plince, Pomerol “A straightforward, attractive, pleasant Pomerol, with adequate fruit and a dark ruby/plum color, this 2012 does not offer much complexity, but it is mouthfilling and satisfying. Drink it over the next 10-12 years.” 86 pts, Wine Advocate 280206

$50

75. Château Pontet Canet, Pauillac “This impeccably run, biodynamically farmed estate of Alfred Tesseron goes from strength to strength. The 2012 triumphs once again with its notes of dark plum, blackcurrant, licorice and almost a hint of truffle, its full-bodied, supple tannins, and beautiful, expensive mouthfeel. Complex and deep, this dense ruby/purple-colored wine may not be at the level of the 2009 or 2010, but it is a successful wine in this vintage, and a significant wine in 2012.” 93 pts, Wine Advocate 348649 $180

76. Château Poujeaux, Moulis “Now under the administration of new owner Philippe Cuvelier (owner of Clos Fourtet), Poujeaux has dramatically improved the quality. The 2012, a blend of 48% Cabernet Sauvignon and 43% Merlot, 6% Petit Verdot and 3% Cabernet Franc, is a very good Moulis. With a dense ruby/purple color, nice cassis fruit, medium-bodied texture, soft tannins and a fleshy, nicely textured mouthfeel, it should drink well for 10-12 years.” 89 pts, Wine Advocate 348771

2012 BordeauX

$50

31

77. Château La Providence, Pomerol “Dense ruby/purple with fleshy black cherry and black currant fruit, some licorice and incense, this opulent, medium to full-bodied wine displays terrific purity, a subtle dosage of background oak, and earth. Maybe even a hint of truffle can be found in this complex, high-class Pomerol to drink over the next 20 years. This is a beauty and another great example of what heights Pomerol achieved in this vintage.” 92 pts, Wine Advocate 784728 $120

78. Château Puy Blanquet, St-Émilion “A great wine for short-term drinking, the Puy Blanquet has a nice balance between sweet herb, milk chocolate and re plum notes.” Barbara Philip, MW 940783

$35

79. Château Rahoul, Graves “The wines from Graves are some of the best in the ’12 vintage and the Rahoul offers outstanding value. It is dominated by red fruits and mineral flavours with fine tannins and a good finish.” Barbara Philip, MW 172676 $28

80. Château Rauzan Ségla, Margaux “The 2012 Rauzan-Ségla (54.5% Cabernet Sauvignon, 44% Merlot and 1.5% Petit Verdot) is a classic Rauzan-Ségla, still relatively backward and tannic, but concentrated and extremely promising. Dense blueberry, blackberry and cassis fruit along with some licorice, vanilla, foresty notes and spice are all present in this full-bodied yet structured and big, beefy style of RauzanSégla . It may turn out to be somewhat atypical for this château in its size and masculine structure, but this is impressive wine, and one of the great successes of the vintage.” 94+ pts, Wine Advocate 348805

32

$99

2012 BordeauX

81. Réserve de la Comtesse, Pauillac “Features a solid bolt of graphite through the middle, with dark plum, blackberry and cherry paste flavors filling out the core. The anise-edged finish has good grip, but is approachable already. Drink now through 2019.” 89 pts, Wine Spectator 117952

$55

82. Château Rouget, Pomerol “This property has been on the qualitative high road for a number of years, and the 2012 continues that path. Deep ruby/ purple, with wonderfully sweet, earthy, black cherry and blackcurrant fruit jumping from the glass, it is broad, opulent, beautifully textured and juicy. This is a sexy, lush, heady Pomerol to drink now and over the next 15 or more years. Full, long and impressive, there is no reason to defer your gratification with this beauty.” 92 pts, Wine Advocate 369603

$65

83. Château La Serre, St-Émilion “This has lovely layers of boysenberry, fig and raspberry fruit, laced with sweet tobacco and backed by a long mineral edge on the finish. The toast is modest and well-integrated and the mouthfeel is lush, with a light, loamy edge.” 89 pts, Wine Spectator 279877

$58

84. Château Smith Haut Lafitte, Pessac-Léognan (L) “The opaque bluish-purple 2012 Smith Haut Lafite offers up notes of licorice, graphite, blueberry and blackberry fruit, a medium to full-bodied mouthfeel, stunningly ripe, velvety tannins and a long, long finish. This is another sensational effort from the Cathiards that is perfectly balanced, complex, superrich and pure. Drink it over the next 20-25 years.” 95 pts, Wine Advocate 348813

bottle limit 2

2012 BordeauX

$138

33

85. Château Sociando Mallet, Haut-Médoc “Once again proprietor Jean Gautreau has hit pay dirt with a beautiful blend of 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot and 5% Cabernet Franc. Wonderfully sweet, ripe tannins seem to be a rule of thumb from this great terroir just to the north of St.Estèphe’s Château Montrose. A beautiful deep ruby/purple color, decent acidity, medium to full-bodied mouthfeel and stunning fruit put this wine right in the midst of the best classified crus from the Médoc, yet it has never been classified.” 90 pts, Wine Advocate 724088

$58

86. Château Talbot, St-Julien “A juicy style of wine, Talbot’s 2012 has a dense ruby/purple color, plenty of black and red currant fruit, a touch of plum, soft tannin and a spicy, medium-bodied mouthfeel. It is excellent, with no hollowness or astringency. This is a very successful wine in this vintage and should drink well for 15-20 years.” 90 pts, Wine Advocate 659813

$75

87. Château Troplong Mondot, St-Émilion (L) “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 away. She was one of the bright, shining stars of Bordeaux. Nevertheless, her legacy is certainly well-established, and the quality of this wine is beyond reproach. Inky bluish purple, its great notes of cassis, blackberry, licorice are followed by a full-bodied, opulently textured wine with stunning concentration, purity and overall balance. It should drink well for 20-25 years and turn out to be one of the great superstars of 2012.” 96 pts, Wine Advocate 348847

34

bottle limit 2

$175

2012 BordeauX

88. Château Trotanoy, Pomerol (L) “A spectacular Pomerol that is dense ruby/purple with notes of beef blood, crème de cassis, black cherry liqueur, licorice, iron, and perhaps a touch of truffle. Full-bodied, opulent and clearly a blockbuster of 2012, this profound wine offers serious competition for Pétrus and several other limited-production, high-quality Pomerols. This is a stunner from the Moueix firm and should age well for 20-25 years. The final blend was 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc… ” 96 pts, Wine Advocate 956615

bottle limit 2

$200

89. Vieux Château Certan, Pomerol (L) “Very distinctive, with a terrific smoldering tobacco and charcoal frame around a core of steeped fig, blackberry and plum fruit. The fruit drapes beautifully across the finish, while the charcoal edge extends on and on, picking up warm stone, chestnut and alder notes along the way. Shows serious grip, and should be among the longest-lived wines of the vintage.” 94 pts, Wine Spectator 348854

bottle limit 2

2012 BordeauX

$290

35

90. Mondrian Collection Case, various (L)

Only 2 available – 39th & Cambie location only! The top wines of the vintage together in one beautiful package! Contains one of each: Château Pétrus 2012, Château Lafite Rothschild 2012, Château Mouton Rothschild 2012, Château Margaux 2012, Château Haut-Brion 2012, Château Mission Haut-Brion 2012 Château Cheval Blanc 2012. 472993

limit 1

$8,500

The tasting notes included in this brochure are excerpts from reviews in Wine Advocate (Robert Parker & Neal Martin) and Wine Spectator with some notes by Barbara Philip, MW. Please refer to the original publication for each wine’s full review. Prices do not include applicable taxes and are subject to change without notice.

36

2012 BordeauX

2012 BordeauX

37

Vins Blancs 91. Château Carbonnieux Blanc, Pessac-Léognan “Another full-throttle 2012 dry white, this 2012 offers lots of honeysuckle notes as well as a full-bodied mouthfeel and beautiful purity, elegance and length. Lemon zest, grapefruit and subtle wood characteristics are found in both the aromatic and flavor profiles. Drink this stunning Pessac-Leognan over the next 6-10 years.” 90-92 pts, Wine Advocate 346767, 101683

$58

92. Clos des Lunes Lune d’Argent Blanc, Bordeaux “This project from Olivier Bernard of Domaine de Chevalier is a blend of 70% Semillon and 30% Sauvignon. A rich, concentrated, medium to full-bodied, dry white with beautiful fig, honeysuckle and caramelized citrus notes, this fresh, lively, medium-bodied wine should drink well for another 5-6 years.” 91 pts, Wine Advocate 347484

$35

93. Château de Fieuzal Blanc, Pessac-Léognan “Layered, with savory and thyme notes melding into the core of lemon curd, white peach, straw and shortbread. The savory and plump flavors create a compelling contrast from start to finish. Drink now through 2015.” 90 pts, Wine Spectator 796631

38

$79

2012 BordeauX

94. Château Haut-Bergey Blanc, Pessac-Léognan “Attractive, subtle smoky notes blend beautifully with the broad, honeyed character of this complex white Bordeaux. Aromas of beer nuts, tropical fruit and caramelized grapefruit emerge from this impressive, medium to full-bodied wine. It should drink well for a decade.” 90-93 pts, Wine Advocate 347229

$60

95. Château La Garde Blanc, Pessac-Léognan “Gorgeous, with citrus oil, blanched almond, thyme, straw, quinine and green almond notes all racing along, carrying through the floral-tinged finish. Distinctive, mouthwatering and precise.” 91 pts, Wine Spectator 159152

$45

96. Château La Mission Haut-Brion Blanc, Pessac-Léognan (L) “This blend of 84% Semillon and 16% Sauvignon Blanc is from the vineyard that used to be known as Laville Haut-Brion. Bursting with aromas of candle wax, honeyed tangerines, exotic melon and lychee nut-like notes, it exhibits terrific minerality along with a full-bodied mouthfeel, exceptional concentration, great acids and a long finish that lasts 40+ seconds. This killer dry white wine should drink well for 30-40+ years.” 96-98+ pts, Wine Advocate 410480

bottle limit 1

2012 BordeauX

$1.200

39

97. Château Olivier Blanc, Pessac-Léognan “A focused, steely style, with a chiseled thyme and savory edge running along a rapierlike core of chamomile, quinine, white peach and yellow apple fruit. Shows solid zip and depth, and should age well.” 92 pts, Wine Spectator 653147

$60

98. Pavillon Blanc du Château Margaux, Bordeaux (L) “Pure, bright and mouthwatering, with melon rind, honeysuckle and quinine notes rippling along beautifully, accented by green almond on the finish. Hums like a just-struck tuning fork. Seriously long.” 93 pts, Wine Spectator 370296

bottle limit 2

$250

99. Château Smith Haut Lafitte Blanc, Pessac-Léognan (L) “The grand vin, the 2012 Smith Haut Lafitte, offers up lovely honeysuckle, orange marmalade, white peach, fig, and caramelized citrus notes. Medium to full-bodied, with great concentration and length, and a stunningly long finish, it should last for 20-25 years.” 95 pts, Wine Advocate 348839

40

bottle limit 2

$170

2012 BordeauX

Sauternes 100. Château Climens, Sauternes (L) “This pulls together lush pineapple, ginger, creamed apricot and peach notes, along with singed almond and bitter orange hints. Stays broad and rich overall, but there’s good cut underneath and some power that will need a bit of time to mellow.” 95 pts, Wine Spectator 346809 (375 ml)

bottle limit 2

$58

101. Château Doisy Védrines, Sauternes “An unctuous style, with toasted almond and hazelnut notes coating the core of glazed peach, warm piecrust and creamed yellow apple. Shows a fresh lemon meringue edge on the finish, though that should give way to a more tropical and toasty side as this ages. Drink now through 2027.” 91 pts, Wine Spectator 369876 (375 ml) 401356

$38 $68

102. Château Guiraud, Sauternes “Although there were three tries in 2012, Xavier Planty told me that all the botrytis-affected grapes were harvested in the three days period of October 29, 30 and 31, after the north-easterly wind. Nevertheless, his Guiraud has a sense of “confidence” on the nose that bodes well for the future – crisp, honeyed fruit with white peach and quince developing with aeration.” 90-92 pts, Wine Advocate 347161 (375 ml)

42

$50

2012 BordeauX

2012 BordeauX

43

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N

E

Bottle Limits 1. Château Angélus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2. Château Ausone . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6. Château Beychevelle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14. Carruades de Lafite . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16. Château Certan de May . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17. Château Cheval Blanc . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29. Château Ducru Beaucaillou . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33. Château Figeac . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35. Château La Fleur-Pétrus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39. Château Gracia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44. Château Haut-Brion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45. Château Hosanna . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47. Château Lafite Rothschild . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57. Château Lynch Bages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58. Château Margaux . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60. Château La Mission Haut-Brion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61. Château Montrose . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62. Château Mouton Rothschild . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66. Château Pavie . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71. Château Pétrus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72. Château Pichon Baron . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84. Château Smith Haut Lafitte . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87. Château Troplong Mondot . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88. Château Trotanoy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89. Vieux Château Certan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90. Mondrian Collection Case . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 96. Château La Mission Haut-Brion Blanc . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98. Pavillon Blanc du Château Margaux . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 99. Château Smith Haut Lafitte Blanc . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100. Château Climens (375 ml) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

46

2 2 1 1 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 1 1 2 2 2 2 2 2 1 2 2 2 2 2 1 1 2 2 2

2012 BordeauX

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2012 BordeauX

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2012 Bordeaux will be available at the following stores on Saturday, October 3, 2015: Lower Mainland 39th & Cambie 5555 Cambie St Vancouver, BC V5Z 3A3 604 660 9463 Alberni & BUTE 768 Bute St Vancouver, BC V6E 4H6 604 660 4572 Langley 6435–201 St Langley, BC V2Y 2X4 604 532 4911 Park Royal 570 Park Royal North West Vancouver, BC V7T 1A1 604 981 0011 Richmond Brighouse 100–8100 Ackroyd Rd Richmond, BC V6X 3K2 604 278 2343 Westwood Centre 100–2748 Lougheed Hwy Port Coquitlam, BC V3B 6P2 604 927 2681

Outside Lower Mainland Fort Street 1960 Foul Bay Rd Victoria, BC V8R 5A7 250 952 4220 Kamloops Columbia PlACE 600–1210 Summit Dr Kamloops, BC V2C 6M1 250 828 4319 Kelowna Orchard PARK 109–1835 Dilworth Dr Kelowna, BC V1Y 9T1 250 861 7337 Prince George Pine CENTRE 3173 Massey Dr Prince George, BC V2N 2S9 250 561 5608

Participating Non-Signature Stores Dunbar 3453 Dunbar St Vancouver, BC V6S 2C3 604 224 4412 Peninsula Village 280–15355–24th Ave Surrey, BC V4A 2H9 604 535 8259

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2012 BordeauX

www.bcliquorstores.com