To produce the best 2012 St. Estephe wines possible, growers were forced to pick before the Cabernet Sauvignon was able to fully ripen. Often the tannins are hard, showing a dry, green character in the finish. 2012 St. Estephe is a year where a light touch was needed.
At their best, 2012 Haut Medoc will provide quite charming Bordeaux wine that will deliver pleasure on release. Other estates that over extracted and used too much oak produced wines with drying tannins that are never going to be a lot of fun to taste.
2012 Pauillac is not going to make anyone forget about 2010 Pauillac or 2009 Pauillac. But it does not need to. The wines are not for long term drinking, which is a good thing for fans of Pauillac
2012 St. Julien is a mixed vintage. There are some fine, medium bodied, classically styled 2012 St Julien wines, along with others displaying dry tannins and over extraction.
When we say something is a good value in the wine business we’re talking about wines that could be $3- $3,000 a bottle, due to the relativity of that value in comparison with wines of the same quality, ilk, style, demand and score.
At its best, 2012 Bordeaux wines are lighter in style, perhaps similar to 2001 or 1999, blended with 2002. In the Right Bank, where the wines were more successful overall, numerous chateaux compare the vintage with 1998. As matter of quality, I do not agree with that premise.
Older wines, especially mature Bordeaux often develop truffle aromas, along with numerous other complexities. Pairing those characteristics found in older wines with truffle dishes is a naturally perfect combination. Especially when it is so easy to do.