Vinous (93+)

The 2012 Barolo Sorì Ginestra is one of the more understated wines I have tasted here in some time. Silky, pliant and expressive, the 2012 boasts considerable aromatic presence to match its overall weight and intensity on the palate. A host of lavender, smoke, mint, plum, spice and savory herb overtones add the closing shades of nuance.

Vinous (94+)

Vivid dark red. Ripe aromas of red cherry, blood orange and stone fruit. Smooth, dense and juicy, with flavors similar to the aromas but complicated by notes of fresh herbs, sweet spices and hints of flint. Long and suave, with noble but youthfully chewy tannins providing support. Knockout classic Brunello, in fact, one of the year’s best.

Vinous (98)

Vivid deep red. Musky, deep, mineral-tinged aromas of red cherry, violet and crystallized orange peel. Sweet, lush and packed with red fruit, blood orange nectar and savory underbrush flavors; a step up in sheer size from Costanti’s 2013 Brunello. At once powerful and refined, this seriously saturates the palate with flavor, vibrant minerality and noble tannins. This is everything a great Brunello ought to be.

James Suckling (95)

Always excellent for the vintage. What a nose with currants, blackberries, cinnamon and nutmeg. Stones and wet earth too. Full-bodied and refined yet muscular and trim. Fabulously polished tannins. Try drinking in 2020.

James Suckling (91)

Blueberry, raspberry and citrus character. Hints of hazelnut and chocolate. Medium to full body, firm tannins and a fresh finish. Better in 2016.

Vinous (92)

Good deep red. Slightly roasted red fruits and dried spices on the nose and palate. Sweet, thick and mouthfilling; almost Rhône-like in its ripeness without coming across as heavy. Finishes with noble tannins, excellent length and surprising vinosity.

Vinous (93)

(50% new oak): Inky ruby. Sexy, inviting aromas of cherry compote, blackcurrant, incense and smoky Indian spices, with a peppery nuance in the background. Smooth, sweet and open-knit, offering sappy dark fruit and spicecake flavors complemented by notes of cola and violet pastille. Sweet and youthfully tannic on the clinging finish, with repeating smoke and floral qualities. Shows a very civilized character for this bottling, which is often a tough read in its early days.

Tim Atkin MW (97)

This comes from vineyards in Villalba, Briones and Torremontalbo and is another brilliant release from María Larrea. Savoury, sweet and well balanced, with 15% Graciano adding extra backbone and the zest that you expect from this special red

Tim Atkin MW (97)

This comes from vineyards in Villalba, Briones and Torremontalbo and is another brilliant release from María Larrea. Savoury, sweet and well balanced, with 15% Graciano adding extra backbone and the zest that you expect from this special red

Tim Atkin MW (97)

This comes from vineyards in Villalba, Briones and Torremontalbo and is another brilliant release from María Larrea. Savoury, sweet and well balanced, with 15% Graciano adding extra backbone and the zest that you expect from this special red

James Suckling (91)

Beautiful aromas and flavors of juicy black plums, candied cherries and strawberries. This is also salty and very mineral. Full body, good acidity, velvety tannins and a long, spicy finish. Drink now.

Vinous - Antonio Galloni (92)

A very pretty wine for the year, the 2012 d'Armailhac is plush, open and seductive. Dark red cherry, tobacco, wild herbs, smoke, leather and game are all pushed forward in a pliant, supple Pauillac that is already quite open and expressive. Dark red cherry, plum, tobacco, smoke and licorice meld into the pliant finish, all with sweet floral overtones that add to the wine's considerable appeal.

Wine Advocate (95)

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. I underrated this wine dramatically in my report of April, 2013 (Issue 206).

James Suckling (97)

A decadent nose of treacle tart, chocolate, tar, tons of black fruit such as blackberries and mulberries and even ash and licorice. A dense, layered mouthfeel makes for a full-bodied palate that's explosive yet somehow so refined and pretty all at the same time. The finish goes on and on. Incredible now, but better to wait for this giant to settle well into 2020.

Vinous (98+)

The 2012 Maya is surprisingly deep and powerful in this vintage, with none of the early appeal of the estate's other 2012s. Today, the Maya is dark and brooding, with tons of intensity to match its massive, virile personality. Readers will have to be patient, but the 2012 is a special wine that much is clear.

Vinous - Neal Martin (91)

The 2012 La Dame de Montrose has a very classy, well-defined nose with vigorous blackberry, wild strawberry and cedar scents bursting from the glass. The oak is neatly enmeshed. The palate is well-defined with a fresh saline entry (more so than its peers). Ripe and generous, perhaps it tries too hard on the finish and loses some of its precision, but this is a fine effort. Tasted blind at the Southwold Ten-Year On tasting.

Vinous (93-96)

The 2012 Corton Clos du Roi is a model of delicacy and finesse. Dark raspberries, wild flowers and savory herbs all meld together gracefully in a wine that is all about transparency, nuance and detail. Texture and a total sense of polish are some of the signatures that are impossible to miss. Dried herbs, crushed flowers and anise are all woven together nicely through to the finish.

Indulge in the exquisite experience of De Sousa Cuvee Umami Extra Brut Grand Cru 2012, a luxurious Champagne born in the eminent vineyards of Avize in France. Crafted by Erick De Sousa, a third-generation winegrower acclaimed for his biodynamic practices, this stellar wine evokes the essence of its terroir.

The exceptional 2012 vintage manifests a unique Umami character, thanks to Sousa’s meticulous ageing process on lees for seven years, endowing it with complex flavours and an impressive structure. This 100% Chardonnay, uniquely blended from De Sousa’s ancient vines, is distinguished by its natural yeasty fragrance, crisp acidity, and hints of toasted brioche, all perfectly balanced with a remarkably low dosage.

De Sousa Cuvee Umami Extra Brut Grand Cru 2012 is indisputably an embodiment of fine winemaking, perfect for connoisseurs seeking a profound taste experience. A delightful companion to oysters and caviar, it promises a euphoria for the palate.

Vinous (90)

Bright ruby-red. Sexy, soil-inflected scents of blueberry, tobacco, black tea and spices. Plush, pliant and sweet on the palate, offering considerable immediate appeal and finishing with a fine dusting of tannins and very good length. Not especially complex but delicious and perfumed right now; sweeter and more pliant than the 2013 version but without that wine's lift or tannic clout.

Vinous (91)

Straw-gold. Peach, honey, menthol, herbs and flowers on the complex nose and palate. Honeyed, thick and brisk, with penetrating, ripe acidity perfectly buffering the wine's sweetness. Finishes very long, smooth and surprisingly dry. Very rich and very well balanced chenin blanc, one of the best of my tastings this year.

Wine Advocate (90)

The 2012 Elevation 393 is a blend of Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc. The wine spent 23 months in new French oak and underwent spontaneous fermentation. The nose begins with complex dark fruits, smoky tones with a black spice and a fine dusty minerality, which Stellenbosch typically lends to a wine. There are bitter black tea and herbal notes that are expressed over the mid-palate and meshes well with the dark fruit and spice notes here. The finish is long and full-bodied, with a tight tannic grip. 3,504 bottles were bottled by hand, unfiltered and unfined.

Vinous (85)

The 2012 Merlot comes half from the estate and half from Keermont. It has a light blackberry and raspberry bouquet that feels a little timid and needs more vigor. The palate is medium-bodied with dusky red berry fruit, soft texture and moderate acidity, the one-third new oak neatly used, but it needs more vigor and vivacity on the tertiary finish.

Wine Advocate (91)

The 2012 Syrah 393 is de-stemmed and crushed gently, undergoing malolactic fermentation in the barrel. It has a tightly wound, mint-fresh, more floral bouquet compared directly to the 2012 Blueprint Syrah. The palate is well balanced with slightly lighter and more tensile tannin structure, brisk and lively with moderate depth. It offers vibrant black fruit towards the finish and a lingering balsam aftertaste, completing a well-crafted Syrah that should give 8-10 years of pleasure.

Regarded as one of the premium vintages of the decade, the De Venoge Champagne Louis XV Brut 2012 is a true testament to the winemaking finesse honed by the House of De Venoge. This Reims-established Champagne house, famed for its exceptional cellars, has indeed outdone itself with this distinct Brut, which finely balances delicacy and boldness. It's composed of grand Cru Chardonnays and Pinots Noirs, expertly aged for a minimum of six years before disgorgement, resulting in a golden champagne with an expressive, mineral nose and sublime floral notes.

The producer's tradition of responsible viticulture attitudes towards their terroir ensures top-grade grapes for every bottle. On tasting, the De Venoge Champagne Louis XV Brut 2012 unveils complex layers of stone fruit and honey, beautifully rounded by a harmonious yet crisp acidity. Its finish is filled with an enveloping creaminess and a cool mineral flourish. It's a lustrous Champagne that resonates luxury and elegance.

Wine Advocate (94+)

A worthy successor to the super 2008, Delamotte's 2012 Blanc de Blancs is performing very well—despite the fact that it was disgorged as recently as June 2019. Opening in the glass with aromas of citrus oil, dried white flowers, smoke and wheat toast, it's medium to full-bodied, deep and concentrated, with a bright girdle of acidity, well-integrated dosage and a fine mousse, the muscularity of the vintage rendered with uncommon finesse. While this is quite expressive for such a recently disgorged vintage Delamotte, the rewards of even only a few years' patience will be considerable.

Wine Advocate (95)

Showing even better from bottle than barrel, the 2012 Côte Rôtie La Landonne is a fabulous effort that oozes notions of cassis, black raspberry, violet, incense and spice-box. Medium to full-bodied, with a gorgeous mid-palate and building, fine tannin, enjoy this ripe, layered, textured beauty over the coming 10-15 years. Made from 100% Syrah aged in new barrels, it’s gorgeous.

Vinous (92)

Deep ruby. Pungent dark berry and cherry pit aromas are complemented by candied violet, mocha and black pepper. Fleshy and expansive on the palate, offering sweet, spice-tinged black and blue fruit flavors that put on weight and become more spicy with air. Open-knit, pure and seamless in texture, finishing with superb punch and velvety tannins that add grip.

Wine Advocate (95)

Just a small step back from the Les Bessards, the 2012 Hermitage Domaine des Tourettes is a stunning effort that exhibits blockbuster notes of toasted spice, leather, peppery herbs and sweet black and blue fruit. Seeing 16 months in 60% new French oak, it's a powerful, concentrated and full-bodied effort that has lots of tannin, but more than enough fruit to handle it. Like the Les Bessards, shorter-term cellaring is advised here and it will have over two decades of longevity.

Wine Advocate (97)

The star of the show is the 2012 Hermitage Les Bessards. Coming from the pure granite soils of the Les Bessards lieu-dit, on the western edge of the appellation, it’s made from 100% Syrah and spent 16 months in 70% new French oak. It’s an incredible wine that offers classic powdered rock-like minerality, loads of crème de cassis and black raspberry fruit, smoked meats, spice and dried-flower nuances. Complex, pure and perfumed, it’s full-bodied and seamless on the palate, with fabulous density, ultra-fine tannin structure and impeccable overall balance. Give it 3-4 years in the cellar and drink it over the following two decades.