BORDEAUX 2012 : RESULTS (10)

2012 dry white wines: 57 wines 2012 Sauternes & Barsac : 20 winesReport 10 (29 April 2013)2012 dry white wines: a good vintage, which is more variable than I initially thought. The wines that turned out the best with enough density, liveliness and no heaviness come from cool areas or soils that are more limestone- than gravel-based, unless the winemaker focussed specifically on working to preserve freshness before anything else. Sometimes, because of a lack of sinew and too high alcohol content, a more insipid sensation results. A LOUIMA Bordeaux blanc 16 // 90 What a wine from vines that are hardly 4 years old! This is Baptiste Guinaudeau’s greatest white wine. The age of the vines is offset by the selection of especially well-suited stock. This wine is made and produced on scarcely 0.8 hectares. Density of 6,000 vines. Limestone soil. Pale colour. Subtle, ripe nose that is fresh and elegant. The wine caresses the tongue and develops a sophisticated feel with an amazing hint of truffle. It is powerful enough and ends up long and aromatic with energy and smooth softness. Hints of blood orange as it lingers. It’s tasty and really elegant. ALTO DE CANTENAC BROWN Bordeaux blanc 15 // 87 Pale straw. Peppery nose of truffle bursting with fruit. Fairly powerful, fragrant palate with truffle and delicate oak that melts in the mouth. Sheer delight throughout. Fragrant and attractive finish. ARDENNES (D') Graves Blanc 14 // 85 BOUSCAUT Pessac-Léognan blanc 15,75 // 89 Pale greenish straw. Attractive nose of truffle and candied lemon peel. Lively and fragrant palate with good density leading to layers of delicious flavors and a long, sappy and delicately smokey finish. Lovely. BROWN Pessac-Léognan blanc 14,75 // 86 CARBONNIEUX Pessac-Léognan blanc 15 // 87 Pale greenish straw. Fresh and minty nose of fruit; deliciously pulpy palate crammed with fruit; opening up with lift towards a tight finish and a good persistence; standard length. CHANTEGRIVE Graves Blanc 14,75 // 86 CHANTEGRIVE Cuvée Caroline Graves Blanc 15 // 87 CHARMES GODARD (LES) blanc Côtes de Francs 15,25 - 15,5 // 87 - 88 Pale yellow colour. Elegant, fruity, ripe nose. Silky and very fruity on the palate. Ripe fruit. Sinewy structure from the middle until the finish. Elegant and flavoursome as it lingers. Good length. CLARTE DE HAUT BRION (LA) Pessac-Léognan blanc 16 // 90 Green, greyish yellow colour. The nose is reminiscent of citrus, nettles and pepper. Smooth, round, juicy, richly supple, very flavoursome and pleasurable on the palate. It is very hard to spit this wine out as it has great length. Blend of 58% Semillon and 42% Sauvignon. CLOS DES LUNES - lune blanche Bordeaux blanc 15 // 87 This wine is already bottled. It is only made in tanks. Pale colour, pretty, fruity, floral bouquet. Simply delicious on the palate, tasty and strikingly well made with energy and flower and white fruit flavours, quite unlike Bordeaux. For drinking within five years. I heard talk of a price to the consummer of €9 per bottle. CLOS DES LUNES - lune d'argent Bordeaux blanc 15,75 // 89 Half of this wine was barrel-aged. It has a lovely smell of pears and is silky smooth and flavoursome on the palate, melting in the mouth, but with a burst of strength on the finish. It is then reminiscent of the best Chenin-based wines and the freshness of citrus. CLOS DES LUNES - lune dor Bordeaux blanc 16 - 16,25 // 90 - 91 Fifteen barrels still ageing. Fleshy, full and flavoursome with a long, complex finish. It is very good and made to be cellared. CLOS FLORIDÈNE Graves Blanc 16,25 // 91 Pale colour with green tints. Very aromatic, elegant, fruity nose. Notes of pear and liquorice. Airy, fondant and richly supple on the palate with subtle feel and aromas. Good corpulence; it ends up long and impossible to spit out with a lovely finish. CLOS MARSALETTE Pessac-Léognan blanc 15 // 87 Pale colour with green tints. Attractive nose of pepper, smoke and truffle. Nice attack, quite richly supple on the palate; it develops to show it is nicely constituted, fragrant and flavoursome ending up with a flavoursome, sappy finish with standard length. COUHINS Pessac-Léognan blanc 14,75 // 86 COUHINS LURTON Pessac-Léognan blanc 14,75 // 86 CRABITEY Graves Blanc 14,75 // 86 CYGNE DE CH. FONRÉAUD (LE) Bordeaux blanc 15 // 87 Pale straw with delicate and subtle nose of fruit. As fragrant as ever, if not as powerful as other vintages. Good persistence of fruit. DOISY DAËNE sec Bordeaux blanc 15,75 // 89 This is a barrel-fermented Sauvignon varietal with 15% new wood. Grows in Barsac limestone soils that are so conducive to quality! Pale green colour. Very pure fruit with aniseed and liquorice on the nose. Quite magical on the palate, it melts and finishes up smooth, flavoursome and fondant. It is delicious and subtly sappy as it lingers. A great achievement. Domaine de CHEVALIER Pessac-Léognan blanc 16,75 // 93 Pale straw with greenish hues. Elegant floral nose of ripe fruit. Attractive, subtle entry with dainty tactile feel on the palate. The wine then picks up momentum and the deft mix of delicate tactile sensations and generous flavors really works its magic. Long delicious finish with vanilla and hints of fully ripe lemon citrus coming back to the fore. Deliciously long and remarkably balanced. EVÉCHÉ (L') Bordeaux blanc 15,25 - 15,5 // 87 - 88 Pale colour. Fruity, ripe, even very ripe nose. Richly supple and flavoursome on the palate with taste, dense soft body and lovely hints of pear, citrus and warm butter as it lingers. Good length. Highly recommended as an aperitif. FERRANDE Graves Blanc 14,5 // 86 FIEUZAL (DE) Pessac-Léognan blanc 15,75 // 89 Pale straw. Nose of fruit, a touch discreet. Hedonistic palate performing soft, fragrant and velvety through to the sappy persistence. Standard length. FOUGERES (DES) CLOS MONTESQUIEU La Folie Graves Blanc 15 // 87 Pale colour. Elegant, fruity, ripe nose with a hint of menthol. Very fruity and flavoursome on the palate and nicely constituted. Slender on the finish, ending up sappy and pleasant with standard length. FRANCE (DE) Pessac-Léognan blanc 14,75 // 86 GAZIN ROCQUENCOURT Pessac-Léognan blanc 14,75 // 86 GRANDE CLOTTE (LA) Bordeaux blanc 15,75 // 89 Very good white wine crafted by Dany and Michel Rolland on 1 ha on the Lussac St Emilion terroir. Pale straw with green hues. Broad, plump and voluptuous palate with a vibrant energy backed by generous flavors and plenty of sap in the persistence. Long and utterly delicious. GRAND VILLAGE Bordeaux blanc 15 // 87 Light colour. Nose recalls Sauvignon. Hints of boxwood, nettle and very ripe fruit. Tender and fruity on the palate and quite richly supple, developing to become full with a finish that is sappy and tender and so hard to spit out. A fine accomplishment. HAUT BERGEY Pessac-Léognan blanc 15,75 // 89 Pale straw. Elegant nose of ripe fruit with a hint of lemon citrus. Ethereal and melting palate becoming juicy, fragrant and smooth as the wine develops in the mouth. Remarkably sapid and impossible not to swallow. Good length. HAUT BRION Pessac-Léognan blanc 16,75 // 93 Pale green colour. Fruity nose with a slightly varietal hint of Sauvignon. Touches of citrus and lemon. Wide on the attack, full while developing, very aromatic with a delicate feel, this wine is like lace on the finish, ending long and sappy, while always sliding over the tongue. Nice length and the Sauvignon reappears. Blend: 55% Sauvignon and 45% Semillon; Alcohol content: 14.15°; pH: 3.36HAUT NOUCHET Pessac-Léognan blanc 14,75 // 86 HAUTS DE SMITH (LES) Pessac-Léognan blanc 14,75 // 86 HOSTENS PICANT Cuvée des demoiselles Sainte-Foy-Bordeaux 14,75 // 86 JEAN FAUX Bordeaux blanc 14,75 // 86 LAFONT FOURCAT Bordeaux blanc 15 // 87 A subtly soft and aromatic wine with richly supple body that is juicy and lively. It reveals hints of flowers and orange as it lingers. Impossible to spit out. Drink while still young. LARRIVET HAUT BRION Pessac-Léognan blanc 15,5 // 88 Pale greenish hue. Lively nose of fruit with hints of candied lemon peel. Plump, silky palate laden with fruit and voluptuous fat. Very attractive finish. LATOUR MARTILLAC Pessac-Léognan blanc 15 // 87 Pale straw with green hues. Minty nose of fruit. Round and lush palate, moderately dense and packed with fruit, leading to generous sap and fragrances - but on a standard length. LESPAULT MARTILLAC Pessac-Léognan blanc 15,5 // 88 Light straw with green hues. Nose of fruit. Fragrant and smooth palate becoming silky and melting up to the sappy and rather long finish. Utterly delicious. LOUVIÈRE (LA) Pessac-Léognan blanc 15 // 87 Pale straw with green hues. Discreet nose of fruit. Mid-weight palate bursting with fruit. Lifted, plush finish. Standard length. LUCHEY HALDE Pessac-Léognan blanc 15 // 87 Pale colour. Elegant, fruity nose that is ripe and subtle with flowery and citrus hints. Deliciously fragrant on the palate with tender, flavoursome body, developing towards a fresh, sappy finish with standard length and hints of citrus. It’s very tasty! LYNCH BAGES Bordeaux blanc 15,75 - 16 // 89 - 90 Pale colour. Very fragrant nose of Sauvignon, box and nettle. Richly supple and fruity on the palate, flavoursome and tender, becomes aromatic after the middle evolving with good length. Nice, lively finish with tastes of pear, nettles and box. Blend: 60% Sauvignon, 27% Semillon and 13% Muscadelle.MAGDELAINE BOUHOU Bordeaux blanc 14,5 // 86 MALARTIC LAGRAVIERE Pessac-Léognan blanc 16,25 // 91 Pale greenish straw. Up-front fruit on the nose, with hints of toffee and mature fruit. Ethereal and melting palate, laden with fruit and velvety. Good density throughout. Sappy and fragrant finish. Candied lemon peel overtones. Lifted finish. Good length. MILLE ANGES Bordeaux blanc 13,75 // 84 MIREBEAU Les Héliotropes Pessac-Léognan blanc 14,75 // 86 MISSION HAUT BRION (LA) Pessac-Léognan blanc 17 // 94 Pale green colour. Crystal clear. Fruity, fresh and complex with menthol hints on the nose. Juicy attack, then crystalline feel as it develops, ending up powerful in the middle. This very fruity, very fleshy wine evolves becoming complex, then goes on to reach a noble, subtle, very finely graded finish with hints of citrus, flowers and pear. It’s superb. Blend: 84% Semillon and 16% Sauvignon. Alcohol content: 14.6°- pH: 3.27 OLIVIER Pessac-Léognan blanc 15 // 87 Pale greenish hue. Fresh and ripe nose of fruit with hints of citrus followed by an explosion of fruit on the deliciously fresh and dense palate. Touches of pepper coming to the fore as the wine lingers on. Good length. Quite pleasant. PAPE CLEMENT Pessac-Léognan blanc 15,75 // 89 Pale straw with greenish hues. Discreet nose of ripe fruit. Subdued, soft and fruity palate to start with but more obviously marked by the Semillon on the mid-palate. More lifted than usual and less oxidative - apparently still looking for its true identity. I have tasted it many times with very different scores. To me, the best example of Pape Clément white today has to be the 2002. PAVILLON BLANC Bordeaux blanc 16,5 // 92 Pale straw with green hues. Lifted nose of fruit with hints of banana, mint and citrus fruit. Crystalline palate revealing layers of intense flavors. Perky, tasty wine through to the long and sappy finish with a good persistence of white flowers, citrus fruit and truffle. Utterly delicious. A blend of 100% cabernet sauvignon. Alcohol content: 13.43; pH:3.28PICQUE CAILLOU Pessac-Léognan blanc 15 // 87 Pale straw with green hues. Nose of fruit and vanilla. Soft, fruity and sappy palate - moderately dense. Lovely raspberry overtones in the persistence. A surprising wine with delicate fat. RAHOUL Graves Blanc 13,5 // 83 REYNON Bordeaux blanc 15 // 87 As a reminder, this is a Sauvignon varietal and since 2008 it has fermented and has been aged in 50- to 80-litre wooden vats. Pale colour. Intense, lively, very fruity nose smelling of citrus and nettles. Smooth note. It is delicious and melts on the palate, developing to become airy and sparkling with fruit. It is very tasty and hard to spit out. This wine has already been bottled. SARTRE (LE) Pessac-Léognan blanc 14,75 // 86 SMITH HAUT LAFITTE Pessac-Léognan blanc 16,25 - 16,5 // 91 - 92 Pale straw with greenish hues. Fresh and minty nose of fruit. Pretty and silky entry leading to plenty of taste and vibrant fruit. With oak overtones throughout but never tannic, dry nor oxidized. Melting, different in style, ending with sap, lift and generous flavors. Utterly delicious. VALANDRAUD BLANC n° 1 Bordeaux blanc 16,5 // 92 This is an excellent dry white produced at Saint Etienne de Lisse, on the appellation St Emilion, with Fleur Cardinale and Valandraud as neighbours. Mainly sauvignon blanc and gris with a little sémillon. Pale greenish hue. Complex and ripe nose of fruit and truffle. Crammed with fruit on the superbly broad and sappy palate with delicate flesh and balance. Fragrant, lingering finish. Impossible not to swallow. Blended with 60% Sauvignon, 30% Sauvignon Gris and 10% Semillon.VIRGINIE de Valandraud Bordeaux blanc 15,75 // 89 Pale colour. Fruity, ripe nose. A very flavoursome, very fruity, juicy, pleasant wine with a blood orange taste, which finishes with good flavoursome length. Can be enjoyed on its own. Blended with 60% Sauvignon, 10% Sauvignon Gris and 30% Semillon. ______________________________________ 2012 Sauternes & Barsac : variable vintage. One of the smallest since 1992, 1993 and 1994. Some estates managed to stay on track through sheer talent and tiny yields. To begin with, a lack of humidity hindered the development of noble rot. Then subsequent rain made it difficult to maintain concentration. For now, the wines have pure noses and structures lacking texture, even when residual sugar is present. Exceptions aside, they will be for drinking young. Rieussec, Suduiraut and D'Yquem will make no 2012 vintage. BASTOR LAMONTAGNE Sauternes 14 // 85 BROUSTET Barsac 14,5 // 86 CANTEGRIL Sauternes 15,25 // 87 Greenish yellow colour. Fruity nose with hints of truffle and vanilla. Lively and melts in the mouth. Good flavoursome, pleasant length. CLOS HAUT PEYRAGUEY Sauternes 15,5 // 88 Yellow colour. Discrete, toasty, fruity nose. Richly supple on the palate and very fruity, smooth and juicy with medium body. Good length. COUTET Barsac 15 // 87 Greenish yellow colour. Discrete nose. A note of pear. Tender on the attack, discrete in the middle, it goes on to develop flavour with subtly bitter hints. Average length. DOISY DAENE Barsac 15,75 // 89 Greenish yellow. Fruity, subtle nose. Elegantly plump, aromatic and even etheral on the palate; richly supple in the middle with standard body. Good flavoursome, fragrant finish. DOISY VEDRINES Sauternes 15 // 87 Pale yellow colour. Fruity nose with vanilla. Soft and smooth, fruity and flavoursome on the palate. Pleasant with average length. EXTRAVAGANT de DOISY DAENE Barsac 16,75 // 93 Hardly 3 barrels produced. The best sweet white wine in 2012. Pale colour. Intense, fruity nose with truffle. Richly supple and silky on the attack, very aromatic in the middle, with a melting, distinguished feel, this wine ends up sappy and persistent with very good flavoursome length. FILHOT Sauternes 14 // 85 GUIRAUD Sauternes 16 // 90 Strict selection. Scarcely 600 cases produced out of the usual 15,000. Yellow colour. Fruity, spicy nose. Attractive, very noticeable attack. Develops to become very fruity with taste and lovely presence on the mid-palate. Flavoursome and long with spice and a suggestion of citrus peel on the finish. An elegant, pretty wine. LAFAURIE PEYRAGUEY Sauternes 15 // 87 A very pleasant, flavoursome, fruity lightness. Average length. MALLE (DE) Sauternes 14 // 85 MYRAT (DE) Barsac 14 // 85 NAIRAC Barsac 15 // 87 Pale yellow. Discrete, fruity nose. Plump, fruity and flavoursome on the palate with medium body and average length. RABAUD PROMIS Sauternes 14,75 // 86 RAYNE VIGNEAU Sauternes 15 // 87 Dense yellow colour. Fruity nose, smelling of pears. Smooth on the palate, tender in the middle, flavoursome and aromatic. Standard length. ROMER Sauternes 14 // 85 SIGALAS RABAUD Sauternes 15,25 // 87 Dense yellow colour. Discretely fruity nose. Tender, melting and pleasant on the palate with medium body. SUAU Barsac 14,5 // 86 TOUR BLANCHE (LA) Sauternes 15,5 // 88 Pale colour of greenish yellow. Discrete nose. Soft, smooth, fruity and plump on the palate, which is pleasant and well constituted. Average length. _________________________________________________________________________ © Copyright 2010. This publication is the original work of Jean-Marc Quarin Sarl, 10 allée de Ginouilhac, Le Taillan-Médoc. France. - E-mail : jmquarin@quarin.com The news media and subscribing wine distributors, importers and retailers may use portions of this material (such as tasting notes, ratings or quotes) provided that it is not distorted, the proper wine and vintage are stated, www.quarin.com is given credit for the material utilized, and Jean-Marc Quarin (JMQ) is shown as the Copyright holder. _________________________________________________________________________ © Copyright 2010. This publication is the original work of Jean-Marc Quarin Sarl, 10 allée de Ginouilhac, Le Taillan-Médoc. France. - E-mail : jmquarin@quarin.com The news media and subscribing wine distributors, importers and retailers may use portions of this material (such as tasting notes, ratings or quotes) provided that it is not distorted, the proper wine and vintage are stated, www.quarin.com is given credit for the material utilized, and Jean-Marc Quarin (JMQ) is shown as the Copyright holder.

2012 Futures live

BORDEAUX 2012 : RESULTS (10)

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