Burghound (93-95)

A cool and highly restrained nose of spice, plum, underbrush and animale notes displays an ample amount of wood influence. The driving minerality of the openly muscular and hugely proportioned flavors is patently obvious and it continues onto the mouth coating and breathtakingly long finish. I very much like the balance here and while it can't quite match the sheer depth of material evidenced by the Chapelle, it's close and like the Chapelle I would suggest that this is very definitely not a good candidate for early consumption.

Wine Advocate (100)

The perfect 2012 Madrona Ranch displays notes of roasted coffee, forest floor, incense, Christmas fruitcake, blackcurrants and blackberry fruit in an incredibly fragrant, full-bodied, opulent style. Far more dramatic and open-knit Capella, the 2012 Madrona is super-intense, with incredibly velvety tannins. This is a sublime wine of the highest order, a fabulous example of the vintage, and a tribute to the craftsmanship of David Abreu and Brad Grimes. It should drink well for 30+ years.

Wine Advocate (94)

Showing the vintage's rounded, supple and forward character, the 2012 Cornas Vieilles Vignes reveals lots of black raspberry, crushed flowers, toasted bread and licorice aromas and flavors. Full-bodied, ripe, textured and layered, it's a polished and beautifully balanced Cornas to drink anytime over the coming 10-12 years.

Wine Advocate (97)

Tasted blind at the annual Burgfest tasting in Beaune. The 2012 Chambertin Grand Cru from Domaine du Clos Frantin (Albert Bichot) has a dense, fruit-driven bouquet that does not possess the detail of Rousseau's Chambertin 2012. Wild strawberry mingles with cranberry and dried orange peel notes that gain intensity in the glass, but not quite the precision. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannin, citrus fresh in the mouth with touches of blood orange. Perhaps the true quality of this wine is unveiled because it is far superior than the recalcitrant nose. There is a touch of bitterness on the finish, but that merely lends this Chambertin tension. Extraordinarily long and vital, this was one of the huge surprises of the blind tasting.

Tim Atkin MW (97)

The stand out wine at Bichot in 2012, even though it was made from (very special) purchased grapes. Pepper spicy, concentrated, yet clearly defined it's silky, sweet and beguilingly fruity with very subtle oak integration, fine-grained tannins and a silky, palate-caressing finish.

Matthew Jukes (19.5)

When they started co-fermenting this wine in 2005, it offered an integration and balance to this label that was missing when it was previously a blended wine. This is never more evident than in this incredible wine. The nose is utterly stunning a mere two and half years after my first taste, and it can only be described as a stellar creation. While the palate is closed, contemplative, hugely dense, and imposing, the link between the floral, tobacco, tea, and chypre-soaked nose and the extraordinary palate is gripping. There is no gap between perfume and palate ? no truck and trailer, just impeccable limousine. Sensational.

Wine Advocate (96)

Aromas of limes, yellow citrus, crushed stones, herbs, chamomile and honey lead the 2012 Sancerre Edmond to a refreshingly mineral, profund and pure palate of great expression and a stimulating length with citrus flavors. This was my first note of the 2012 Sancerre Edmond, which is dedicated to Alphonse Mellot’s father Alphonse Edmond. The selection from the oldest (about 100 years old) Sauvignon Blanc grapes of the estate (on calcareous marl soils) is the purest and most precise expression of the kimmeridgian terroir because – and this is my finding of the second day – there is nothing more on the nose than ripe fruit aromas (nectarines again) based on and powdered with rock flour. This exceptional Sancerre was fermented and aged for 11 months in wooden vats and new demi-muid barrels, which initially seemed to add a further layer to this already very complex wine. However, the oak was completely absorbed by the minerality, which shines through even clearer the second day when Edmond became significantly more pure, transparent and naked. Its length, complexity and tension, though, remains unrivaled. This is a really powerful and expressive Sancerre but does neither lack purity nor finesse, thrill nor aging potential. I would definitely buy it to give it 8-10 years although it is already accessible.

The Alphonse Mellot Sancerre Rouge Generation XIX 2012 is the epitome of classic, top-drawer Pinot Noir, all the way from France's illustrious Loire Valley. Renowned producer Alphonse Mellot meticulously cultivates this single-vineyard wine. Rigorous hand-sorting ensures only the finest grapes are used, while the wine ages in French oak barrels for 12-18 months to reach its peak condition.

Possessing a radiant ruby hue, this 2012 vintage reveals an aromatic symphony of cherries, truffles, and a whiff of undergrowth. On the palate, it offers a harmonious balance of profound depth, refined tannins, and vivacious freshness. Its serene complexity and au courant elegance resonate well with the reputable Alphonse Mellot heritage, spanning 19 generations of winemaking. Savour the Alphonse Mellot Sancerre Rouge Generation XIX 2012's luxurious layers as the esteemed ambassador of Sancerre Rouge wines.

Wine Advocate (94)

Made from five different lieux-dits of the coteaux de Chavignol, with vines rooted in clay limestone soils for approximately 50 years, the 2012 Sancerre Satellite of Alphonse Mellot is a lovely fruity, fresh and appetizing mineral Chavignol of great precision, elegance and balance. Dressed in pale straw yellow, the wine is like an Armani perfume quoting citric and herbal aromas of limestoned yellow citrus, grapefruits, clementines, thyme and white nectarines. This is an outstanding Chavignol of great purity and length with vibrant energy and tension and a persistent salty finish. This is an impressively enjoyable, elegant and complex Sancerre indeed.

James Suckling (94)

This is amazing for the second wine with incredible white truffle, stone and currant character. Purity of fruit on the nose. Full-bodied, silky and refined. Fantastic length. Better in 2018 but almost impossible to resist now. Incredible.

Wine Enthusiast (97)

Balancing power and grace, this wine delivers alluring aromas and flavors of ripe black cherry, raspberry compote, grilled herb, licorice and tar. Vibrant acidity and firm, velvety tannins provide freshness and structure, while a hint of pipe tobacco closes the lingering finish. Drink 2020–2032.

Wine Advocate (97)

Tasted blind at the annual Burgfest tasting in Beaune. The 2012 Richebourg Grand Cru from A.F. Gros has a very fine bouquet, very expressive with vibrant, shimmering red berry fruit, cherry liqueur, boysenberries and marmalade. This is both complex and involving. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannin, beautifully poised and supple, elegant and utterly harmonious on the finish. The terroir and winemaking here exude Grand Cru quality. It's probably the best wine I have ever tasted from the estate and in a different league to some older vintages that I tasted from the domaine just a few days later.

Vinous (93)

(an 85/15 blend of sauvignon blanc and semillon): Bright, green-tinged yellow. Lovely perfume combines pungent lime skin, stone fruits, lemon drop and essential oils. Dense, sappy and opulent yet somehow weightless, conveying a powerful impression of energy to the flavors of nectarine, lime oil and honey. The semillon contributes roundness. Finishes sexy and long, in need of a year or so in bottle to develop more complexity. Always a splendid blend.

Tim Atkin MW (100)

What does perfection taste like? I've sampled this wine twice - once in Gevrey and once in London - and I have no hesitation in saying that this is it. There's 100% new oak here, but the wine has digested it, like an lion swallowing an antelope. Sikly, fine and effortlessly structured, it's the kind of wine that makes Burgundy lovers dewy eyed. Still a ittle closed at this stage, but this has everything in place for a long life: concentration, fruit, vanilla oak and structure.

Vinous (97)

A heady, exotic Burgundy, the 2012 Gevrey-Chambertin Clos St. Jacques is remarkably vivid for such a big wine, with freakish levels of concentration that are beautifully balanced by insistent veins of underlying minerality. Layers of pure Pinot fruit build through the mid-palate and finish as this voluptuous, racy wine shows off its fabulous pedigree. It simpy doesn't get too much better than this.

Wine Advocate (93-95)

The 2012 Mazis-Chambertin Grand Cru has a well-defined bouquet with lively red berry fruit mixed with bergamot and fresh strawberry. It does not quite have the presence of say Bernard Dugat’s example: more introverted and bashful. The palate is medium-bodied with candied red fruit on the opening, luscious red berries laced with orange zest and a hint of vanilla. The finish is nigh irresistible – full of vigor and tension with peach on the aftertaste. After a slow opening this finishes with grandeur and ambition.

Vinous (90)

Pale yellow. Musky yellow fruits and gingery spices on the nose. Ripe and silky, with harmonious acidity framing the sweet peach and nutmeg flavors. A rich village wine, particularly in the context of this cellar, but I like its cut and balance. Underlying lemon and crushed stone flavors give the finish a slight youthful aggressiveness that calls for a year or two of patience. The crop level was 22 hectoliters per hectare in these parcels. Incidentally, Ente describes 2012 as a good year but a bit too rich and thick; he compared it to 2007 and 2008 in quality, adding that the '08s also had too much thickness. (But take advantage of Ente's atypically rich and concentrated 2012 Bourgogne Blanc if you spot a bottle, as this wine, made from parcels in Meursault and Puligny, will be easier to drink at the outset. I rated it 88 points.)

Savour the magnificence of Arnaud Ente Meursault La Seve du Clos 2012, a real gem from Burgundy, France. Arnaud Ente, the producer, is lauded as one of the region's most outstanding artisans. Taught by his father-in-law, he adopted a meticulous, intensive approach to viticulture, and a minimalist stance towards vinification.

This wine springs from a single parcel in Meursault, harvested by hand, and fermented using indigenous yeasts. Aged in French oak barrels, only a minimal amount of new oak is used to respect the purity of the fruit and reflect the unique terroir.

The 2012 vintage delivers an intoxicating bouquet of hazelnut and brioche, with an energetic palate of ripe citrus and mineral undertones, sumptuously textured. It is a white burgundy that showcases Arnaud Ente's commitment to quality and detail. Arnaud Ente Meursault La Seve du Clos 2012 offers an unparalleled tasting experience, one to be enjoyed in contemplative sips. The splendiferous synthesis of traditional viticulture and modern winemaking.

Vinous (92-94)

(vinified with 80% whole clusters): Bright red. Complex aromas of red berries, spices, flowers and underbrush. Sappy and energetic, showing modest flesh but a distinctly tender quality to its flavors of redcurrant, raspberry, flowers and spices. Finishes long and floral, with a firm spine of tannins and a rocky character. Superb potential.

Vinous (90+)

Bright medium red. Expressive, nuanced aromas of black cherry, leather, smoke, underbrush and pepper. Juicy and firmly built, showing good stuffing but little easy sweetness. Finishes ripely tannic and lightly saline, with excellent energy and a touch of youthful austerity. These vines are now almost 60 years of age, according to Clavelier.

Vinous (87-89)

(just racked): Good bright red. Wild aromas and flavors of redcurrant, plum, mint and flowers. The palate offers good shape and cut, and a firm, ripe finish.

Burghound (96)

The strikingly elegant nose offers the most complexity of these 2012s with its well-layered aromas of spice, plum, violet, dark cherry and sandalwood. There is a beguilingly velvety texture to the lightly mineral-driven medium weight flavors that possess plenty of mouth coating dry extract before terminating in a firm and impeccably well-balanced finish. Note that this classy beauty will also require ample patience.

Emerging from the renowned vineyards of Côte de Beaune in France, the Ballot Millot Meursault-Genevrieres 1er Cru 2012 is a remarkable testament to the vintner's craft. This exquisite white wine has been delicately crafted by esteemed winemaker, Domaine Ballot Millot, who are celebrated for their meticulous approach to viticulture and strict Old World production methods.

The wine is borne of 100% Chardonnay grapes from 40-year-old vines, meticulously farmed on limestone soils. The result is an elegant expression of Meursault, embodying a seamless blend of power and finesse. It boasts a vibrant, golden colour and hints of fragrant yellow fruits and hazelnuts on the nose. Well-rounded citrus and vanilla nuances glide sumptuously across the palate, culminating in a lengthy, mineral-rich finish. The Ballot Millot Meursault-Genevrieres 1er Cru 2012 rewards both immediate enjoyment and careful cellaring, offering exceptional ageing potential.

Savour the epitome of Burgundian excellence with Bart Bonnes-Mares Grand Cru 2012. Produced by the acclaimed Domaine Bart family, this elegant red wine embodies five generations of cherished winemaking practices. Predominantly yielded from old vines in the premium vineyards of Marsannay, its inception is rather meticulous. Unravel a complex bouquet, resulting from a meticulous fermentation approach with indigenous yeasts at controlled temperatures. Barrel ageing for up to 22 months in 20% new oak lends a striking depth.

Experience a harmonic symphony of ripe berry, delicate floral notes, rounded off by earthy undertones. This Pinot Noir's finesse lies in its silky tannins and lasting finish, a testament to the limestone-rich terroir. Bart Bonnes-Mares Grand Cru 2012 shines through in its vintage's character, reflecting an exceptional year of optimal ripeness and exemplary balance. Relish in the mastery of French oenology with Bart Bonnes-Mares Grand Cru 2012 - a sublime portrait of terroir and tradition.

Vinous (95)

We start with the 2012 Barolo from Bartolo Mascarello, which is everything I expect. Perfumed, gracious and utterly sublime, the 2012 is all nuance. It is a real treat to taste and drink after two weeks of tasting embryonic six-month-old Bordeaux. It is also absolutely gorgeous with some of the lighter first courses on the menu. I can see the bewildered faces of my guests, all them native or adopted Bordeaux locals. “How can a wine be so light and yet deliver so much depth and persistence?” That, in a nutshell is what Nebbiolo is all about.

Vinous (95)

We start with the 2012 Barolo from Bartolo Mascarello, which is everything I expect. Perfumed, gracious and utterly sublime, the 2012 is all nuance. It is a real treat to taste and drink after two weeks of tasting embryonic six-month-old Bordeaux. It is also absolutely gorgeous with some of the lighter first courses on the menu. I can see the bewildered faces of my guests, all them native or adopted Bordeaux locals. “How can a wine be so light and yet deliver so much depth and persistence?” That, in a nutshell is what Nebbiolo is all about.