Aromas and flavors of tar, berries and dark chocolate. Full body, relatively firm tannins and a finish that fills the palate. Well done. Second wine of Lynch-Bages.

Open and ready to drink, this 2012 has approachable fluidity and suppleness, its lifted mulberry and blackberry aromas entangled with cedar and spice. A silky mouthfeel is peppered with flavours of tomato leaf and driving...

The 2012 Brut Rosé Cuvée Elisabeth Salmon is a very sexy Champagne, but it is also quite reserved, especially within the context of the year. Crushed rose petal, kirsch, white pepper, slate and mint are all beautifully...

Deep garnet in color, the 2012 Canon storms out of the glass with powerful notes of baked blackberries, prunes, and scorched earth leading to hints of sandalwood and tobacco with a waft of dried herbs. The medium to...

The 2012 Cos d'Estournel is medium to deep garnet-purple colored. It features notes of mocha, cedar chest, and licorice over a core of warm cassis and blackberry preserves with a hint of wild sage. The medium-bodied...

Red cherry, raspberry puree, raspberry leaf and tobacco, more evolved than many of the 2012 classifieds. This is good quality, open and generous. These were the years when Armailhac was still being made to be the younger...

A fine clear crimson colour. The bouquet is taking time to emerge. Is there perhaps a hint of brett in this bottle – it is something I have very rarely found chez Rousseau. There is something that softens and sweetens the...

Coming from Verzy and made from equal parts Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, the 2012 Champagne Montagne Grand Cru pours a medium straw hue with a hint of copper and takes things up a notch with its aromas of framboise...

The 2012 du Tertre has a well-defined nose: fully-mature with hoisin, dark plum and a light, ferrous edge, not powerful but focused. The palate is well balanced with saturated tannins, fine acidity, quite cohesive and...

The 2012 Lafite Rothschild is medium to deep garnet colored. It struts its stuff with very spicy, exotic notes and wafts of incense over a core of creme de cassis, stewed plums, and fruitcake, plus a licorice and tar...

As with the 2011, this is pretty much ready to go, although a very different style, with fatter fruits, less elegant but more fruit-forward, enjoyable ripe blackberries and blueberries, touches of liqourice and smoked...

Medium to deep garnet colored, the 2012 Malartic Lagraviere Rouge features expressive scents of baked plums and stewed cherries with hints of dried herbs, unsmoked cigars, and mossy tree bark. The medium-bodied palate...

This thrives on its intensity of fruit, feeling relatively elegant in body yet deep in aroma and flavour. While its dark, almost gamey fruit tones show a hint of dried fruit or fruit skins, like plum or cherry, it remains...

The 2012 La Tour Carnet is gorgeous. Dark red stone fruits, flowers and sweet spices are some of the notes that inform this soft, pliant wine. I expect the 2012 will develop a further range of exotic aromas and flavors as...

The 2012 Trotte Vieille has an attractive bouquet with blackberry, raspberry, cedar and light liquorice aromas that blossom in the glass. This has better delineation than its peers. The palate is medium-bodied with gentle...

This sleek Champagne shows seamless integration and poise. There's a lovely, Cognac-like thread winding through the flavors of poached quince, white raspberry, lime peel, chopped almond, crystalized honey and pickled...