Barrel sample. Firmly tannic in character, this wine is dry and extracted. There's potential for this powerful, impressive wine to bear the wine's very dry character with the weight of its fruit.

This well-made, complete St.-Julien possesses a dense purple color as well as surprisingly soft tannins for this wine which tends to be jacked up with a lot of structure, masculinity and muscle in most vintages. The 2012 offers attractive cedary, black currant fruit and vanilla notes, and a medium-bodied, denser mid-palate than many of its peers'. The tannins are noticeable in the finish, so give this wine 4-5 years of cellaring and drink it over the following two decades as it will be one of the longer lived wines of the vintage.

Features a chewy edge, with anise, blackberry and black currant fruit notes held together by an ample dose of roasted apple wood. A chewy feel holds the finish, with plum skin and singed wood details lingering. This feels like it may have dried out just a bit since the barrel tasting. Best from 2016 through 2022. 12,500 cases made.