Chateau Margaux 1er Cru 2012

-- Internet: -- Parker: The 2012 Château Margaux is showing much differently from bottle than it did from cask. Seemingly much fuller and richer, it has a dense ruby/purple color, representing a blend of 87% Cabernet Sauvignon and the rest mostly Merlot, as well as only 33% of their harvest. It possesses hints of spring flowers intermixed with blueberries, blackberries and cassis fruit, moderate tannin, a multi-dimensional mouthfeel, and a long, structured finish. This 2012 was charming, up-front and precociously styled from barrel, but in bottle it is more masculine, dense and rich. This wine needs a good 5-7 years of cellaring, and should keep well for 25 or more years. This is a great effort from Château Margaux, and should handsomely repay those who buy it. Anticipated maturity: 2023-2040. 95/100 -- Gerstl: Da ist viel Strahlkraft, herrliche Frische, der Duft deutet perfekt reifes Traubengut hin, feine würzige Komponenten, Kräuter, floral. Gebellte Kraft und noble Feinheit, die Tannine sind schlicht genial. Sinnliche Aromatik, da ist so ein feiner, rauchiger Unterton, alles ist raffiniert und delikat. Der Wein hat Klasse, ist etwas schlanker als gewohnt, aber alles in perfekten Proportionen.19/20 -- NM: The 2012 Chateau Margaux, 87% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Merlot and 2% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot was picked around September 25th with the early ripening Merlot and the heart of the harvest was in early October. Most of the harvest was in before the rains. It has a very fragrant bouquet with macerated dark cherries, minerals, cold stone, a touch of seaweed and a seam of graphite. The palate is medium-bodied with superb tension on the entry. It is very focused with tensile tannins. There is not a huge a huge weight here – and it segues into a Pauillac like, edgy finish. 93-95/100 -- WE: Barrel sample. A surprisingly fresh Margaux considering that it’s dominated by 87% Cabernet Sauvignon. Dense tannins, black fruits and tight acidity combine to present a wine that shows, for a Château Margaux, medium-term potential.95/100 -- WS: Bay and menthol hints lift a core of crushed plum and warm cherry confiture notes while the background fills steadily with black tea, singed alder and iron elements. Turns a little darker on the finish, with a coating of bittersweet cocoa powder and roasted vanilla bean accents, while the minerality stays buried for now. Remarkably dense and packed, yet refined, especially for the vintage. This will need some time to unwind. 95/100 -- TA: Just in case you’re tempted to dismiss 2012 as a light vintage, Paul Pontallier points out that this impressive Margaux has "significantly more tannin than the 1986”. This is certainly dense, with plenty of toasty oak backed up by perfumed, leafy fruit, fresh acidity and a herbal undertone. The acidity is quite marked at the moment, but will ensure that the wine ages gracefully in bottle. Serious, elegant and refined, this is priced appealingly, too.95/100