Bordeaux Wine Enthusiasts

When we went to Bordeaux in the spring of 2015 one of my abiding revelations was the quality of 2012 vintage. On another board a friend went to a Branaire vertical in Asia and the 2012 was the star in a line up which included the 2000. He suggested that the 2012 could be another 1985 in the making. Not the first time I have heard this comparison. If he is right it is time to load up no? Lynch-Bages 1985 was sensational already in 1990. I know I drank it half a dozen times. Arguably it was better then than it is today.

Boy I think you may have something there Comte.
I just really love that smooth 2012 style.
When Jacques described that 2012 Pichon Baron recently it was, like, yeah, I know what you're talking about, man....

I think it is an under-appreciated vintage. I've been buying a few bottles of Rauzan Segla for aging but it so good young that it's hard to keep my hands off them.

Bill

At the end of 1985 I turned 7 so needless to say I did not partake in any of these wines in their youth. Fast forward 25 - 30 years and I have been dipping my toes into 80's Bdx and it has been a treat encountering fully mature examples.

So if 2012 is the indeed a drinkers vintage, the question for me becomes buy now or wait in the hopes that the 2015 and 2016 vintages result in a lower prices as negociants run out of space and funds to warehouse all of wines they are sitting on?

That seems like a fair hypothesis Comte.

In 2012, a bit like in 1985, the right bank has an excellent to great vintage, while on the left bank it is a fruity smooth excellent vintage. Will the 2012 hold for long? But why wait if the 2012 never see the dumb phase of some other vintages? We might have surprises later on as balanced wines can hold good amount of years too.

Personally, i liked very much all 2012 I had, and will open them while waiting the 2009-2010.

Nic

Although my wine budget went with the wind I am curious about relative pricing for this vintage.

Branaire 2012 is a winner. Bought a case. No regrets. A 90+ point wine. No brainer.
Also look out for Haut Batailley 2012. Delicious easy drinking Pauillac.

Carlos Delpin wrote:Although my wine budget went with the wind I am curious about relative pricing for this vintage.

Sorry about your losses Carlos. I hoped you were insured. Is your wine OK?

I have been meaning to pull the trigger on a few. I am very happy to own LLC (only six sadly), Conseillante, Figeac, Pontet Canet and Du Tertre. On my hit list are Rauzan-Segla, Canon, Haut-Bailly, D'Issan and Branaire Ducru.

jckba wrote:At the end of 1985 I turned 7 so needless to say I did not partake in any of these wines in their youth. Fast forward 25 - 30 years and I have been dipping my toes into 80's Bdx and it has been a treat encountering fully mature examples.

So if 2012 is the indeed a drinkers vintage, the question for me becomes buy now or wait in the hopes that the 2015 and 2016 vintages result in a lower prices as negociants run out of space and funds to warehouse all of wines they are sitting on?

Good point JC. This is definitely not a 'glamorous' vintage. It is right in the middle of a 2009/10 and 2015/16 sandwich and of the four - 11, 12, 13, 14 - definitely in the top two.

Jacques's noe on the Baron got me thinking too. Price of Baron has however really soared.

With respect to my 2012 purchases, I largely stayed away from Medoc addresses as when I tasted a number of these at he UGC in NYC several years ago they did not stand out to me across the board like they did in say 2014 and paled in comparison to the wines from Pessac and the Right Bank. As such, I dipped my toes with the following 2012 purchases including Canon (3), Clinet (12), Clos de l'Oratoire (11), d'Issan (12), Grand Puy Lacoste (3), Haut Bailly (6), Malescot St Exupery (3), Pape Clement (12), Troplong Mondot (12) and Vieux Mazerat (2).

There are a couple of more on my hit list (Figeac, Beausejour, DdC, PLL and maybe a Leoville or 2) but I really think that I am going to wait until I taste more 2012's before making the decision of whether or not to plow more funds into this vintage as opposed to something else.

My take so far is that 2012 will be better nearly across the board than '11 and '13 but not as good as '10 or '14 in most cases.
However, there have been some '11s which I thought were very good, albeit lighter bodied than most vintages.

1985 has liasted well for more than 30 years. I don't think 2012 will keep that long but this vintage has given us sensual, round and seductive wines with great aromas and taste.

Saying that I have enjoyed 2012 Lascombes which is a real heartbreaker wine, so Margaux stylish, incredibly seductive and tasty. I had 4 bottles in 1.5 years, every time a great joy for the palate.

Sorry to be a naysayer, but it is nowhere near the quality of the 1985s. For the most part (and there are exceptions), 1985 started off balanced, never really went through a dumb period, and have plateaued beautifully. Good concentration, plenty of bright red fruit, a clarity from the acidity, and medium to long, and sometimes (Haut Brion) very long finish.

2012 is certainly a decent vintage, but does not have the depth and concentration for longevity. Finishes are clearly far less extended. But as a nice, solid year which will drink well in the near term, it is really successful. If Bordeaux wasn't so expensive to start with, it would make an ideal restaurant vintage, and certainly if the price is right, a great one for consumers, and a good introduction for neophytes.

+1:-)
As a wine drinker who could ask for more.....?