A Merlot vintage.
A wet spring, followed by a hot summer, with rain at harvest time led to some difficult decisions for the vineyard managers and wine makers. The wines are ripe and fruity and good wines have been made in the Medoc particularly St Julien, Pauillac, Margaux and the left bank and St Emilion and Pomerol on the right. The sweet wines of Sauternes are very disappointing, with the exception of Château Giraud, having no botrytis and whilst the wines are enjoyable they are by no means classic.
Straight after the tastings Eric Pfanner published an article for the Wall Street Journal “First tastes of the 2012 Bordeaux” which is well worth reading for his accurate assessment of the vintage.
“Now comes 2012, which defies generalizations. There are good wines from almost every part of Bordeaux, at almost every price level — and very disappointing ones, too. Quality is unusually heterogeneous. It is what is sometimes called, euphemistically, a “winemaker’s vintage,” one that favours those with the skills and experience to deal with a challenging growing season.”
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John and William
