France Wines

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The 2012 Chambolle-Musigny Les Feusselottes shows a much more aromatic, lifted side of Chambolle than the Groseilles, which precedes it in this tasting. Sweet floral notes meld into bright red berries in a classy, understated Chambolle that should drink nicely pretty much right out of the gate. Finely cut, chalky tannins give the wine much of its drive and focus.Vinous Media | 92-94 VMThis offers a noticeable step up in aromatic elegance with its ultra-fresh, cool and restrained nose that is comprised of essence of red and blue pinot fruit, spice and stone nuances. There is excellent tension and beautiful delineation to the racy and silky medium-bodied flavors that also exude a fine bead of minerality on the delicious finish that tightens up quickly. This is a really beautiful and harmonious effort, indeed the word Zen comes to mind.Burghound | 92 BHThe 2012 Chambolle-Musigny 1er Cru Les Feusselottes comes from vines that border the village, around two-thirds planted in the 1920s, the rest in 1966. It owns one of the most appealing and complex aromatic profiles of the Chambolle premier crus, adorned with ripe blackberry, bilberry and mineral aromas that are vivacious and captivating to the senses. The palate is energetic with a crisp, citric line of acidity and impressive poise on the finish. I just love the vibrancy, the passion already evident in this Chambolle-Musigny.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 91-93 RP

(one-third whole clusters): Good deep ruby-red. Smoky aromas of dark cherry, black raspberry and spices. Broad and fine-grained but tightly wound today, with serious but suave tannins currently dominating the wine’s fruit. This will need at least a few years of bottle aging upon release.Vinous Media | 90+ VMSoft floral hints add a touch of elegance to the pretty red currant, plum and earth aromas. There is once again a really lovely sense of underlying energy to the lightly mineral-inflected flavors that possess admirable purity of expression, all wrapped in a mouth coating, linear and highly persistent finish. There is some youthful austerity and a hint of dryness present but the harmony is such that this should come together in time.Burghound | 90-92 BHThe 2012 Pommard 1er Cru Les Pezerolles, which comes from the domaine’s two parcels that total just over one hectarewas raised in 25% new oak. It includes one-third whole-cluster fruit and during elevage this cru tended to be reduced and therefore underwent more remontage than usual. The nose is difficult to discern at the moment and I feel that at this juncture it needs to divine more focus. The palate is better with fine tannins and very well-judged acidity. The finish is masculine, foursquare but well-delineated, swerving towards an unexpected ferrous finish. This will need 4-5 years in bottle and should delight with bottle age.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 89-91 RP

Bright red. Sappy black raspberry on the very ripe but energetic nose. A juicy, nicely balanced midweight with excellent dark fruit intensity and persistence. Finishes with a note of torrefaction.Vinous Media | 90 VMA cool and pure nose of red currant, earth and a hint of spice introduces detailed, energetic and delicious middle weight flavors that display excellent depth and length in the context of the appellation. Lovely stuff.Burghound | 89-91 BH

Tasted blind at the annual "Burgfest" tasting in Beaune. The 2012 Chambertin Clos de Bèze Grand Cru from Joseph Drouhin was another Clos-de-Bèze (alongside that of Chanson’s) that completely surpassed its showing out of barrel. It has a clean and refined bouquet with cola-tinged red berry fruit (cranberry leaf and raspberry) with touches of rooibos and bergamot emerging just behind. The palate is medium-bodied with succulent ripe tannin, impressive depth but with some new oak that clearly needs to be assimilated. Everything is being held back at the moment, but the class and stature here.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 94 RPThe 2012 Clos de Bèze had been bottled at the end of October, but was still showing very well in mid-November, wafting from the glass in a superb aromatic constellation of black cherries, cassis, espresso, black minerality, grilled meats, mustard seed, woodsmoke and a lovely base of cedar. On the palate the wine is deep, full-bodied and very pure on the attack, with beautiful transparency, a sappy core of black fruit, fine-grained tannins, excellent focus and balance and a very, very long, poised and nascently complex finish. Given that this was just bottled, I would expect it to place at the upper end of the range when it has fully recovered. Great juice in the making. (Drink between 2025 - 2075)John Gilman | 94-95+ JG(bottled at the end of October; includes some purchased grapes; vinified with 10% whole clusters): Bright, full red. Restrained nose hints at red fruits and smoky underbrush. Then sweet, silky and dense on the palate, showing considerable power as well as some spicy high tones. Saline, serious wine with an obvious sweet oak component and very good sneaky length. This wine spent 26 days on its skins. A bit shocked by the recent bottling, so my score should be viewed as provisional.Vinous Media | 92+ VMA spicy, cool and highly restrained nose features notes of various red berries, earth, humus and a hint of the sauvage. There is plenty of minerality that adds lift to the relatively supple middle weight flavors that are shaped by fine-grained tannins, all wrapped in a toasty finish that displays very good but not truly distinguished depth and length. To be sure the 2012 Bèze is a quality effort but it doesn’t seem, at least not at this very early juncture, to have that extra dimension present in say the Griotte or Musigny.Burghound | 92 BH

Pure Sauvignon, this is a tropical fruit flavored wine. It’s bright and fruity while also showing a dense texture of grapefruit and steely minerality. The combination makes for an intense wine that’s likely to need time, so drink from 2017.Wine Enthusiast | 94 WE(Château La Louvière Blanc) The 2012 Château La Louvière Blanc is really an exquisite wine in the making and it pains me to think that a significant percentage of this wine will still be bottled under screwcap for less sophisticated markets such as the US. The bouquet is deep, pure and really lovely and complex, wafting from the glass in a mix of tart orange, lime zest, petrol, complex, chalky soil tones, gentle grassiness and a stylish base of vanillin oak. On the palate the wine is deep, full-bodied, crisp and very refined, with a good core of fruit, fine focus, crisp acids and excellent length and grip on the stylish finish. This will be a classic middleweight with a few years of bottle age and really is a delightful bottle of Château La Louvière Blanc. It reminds me quite a bit of the lovely 2001 here. (Drink between 2013-2025)John Gilman | 92 JGThis is juicy and well-packed, showing notes of singed straw and paraffin, with lots of zippy lemon zest, grapefruit curd, tarragon and quinine accents. Really kicks in on the finish. A rock-solid style that needs a touch of cellaring. Best from 2015 through 2018. 4,500 cases made.Wine Spectator | 91 WSDelicate apple and quince aromas and a complex palate of tropical fruit and zippy acidity. Very well expressed with lovely balance. The long finish and mineral edge leaves you wanting another glass. Drinking Window: 2015 - 2022Decanter | 90 DEC

This is very polished and refined with blackcurrant, raspberry and citrus-peel undertones. Full body, extremely fine texture and a long, long finish.James Suckling | 92 JSPart of the empire of the Chateau Mouton Rothschild, this estate was once known as Mouton Baronne Philippe. This impressive, deep, opaque ruby/purple wine, with loads of charcoal, crème de cassis and a flowery-ness, this is rich, medium to full-bodied, beautifully textured, quite pure, and avoids any of the astringency or hollowness that some Médocs possess in this vintage. The wine is complete and finishes authoritatively. The tannins are there, but ripe, integrated and velvety. This is a very impressive d’Armailhac to drink over the next 20-25 years.Robert Parker | 91 RPFragrant, scented and full of charm, but lighter than its richer stablemate Château Clerc Milon, tasted at the same time. This was a good vintage from the Mouton Rothschild stable, and the team there read it well. Remains good value.Decanter | 91 DECFruity and rich, this wine is developing fast. It is full of black currant fruits, with an impressive background of solid, structured tannins. The wine is linear, fresh, showing how well this property is developing its quality. It’s a wine for medium-term aging, so drink from 2018.Wine Enthusiast | 91 WE

This has a lovely copper color with aromas of cloves, spiced apples, raspberries, gingerbread and pastries. Delicious yeasty and spicy undertones. Excellent density and focus, with fine and firm bubbles, yet it’s light on its feet and so fresh. Long, chalky and salty at the end. Chardonnay and pinot noir. 3.8g/L dosage. Drink or hold.James Suckling | 97 JSThe 2012 Brut Rosé Cuvée Elizabeth Salmon offers up hints of red berry fruit, ginger, spice, rosewater, mint and crushed flowers. There is a feeling of classic austerity that runs through the 2012. I would prefer to cellar this for at least a few years, as it is quite reticent at this stage. Chalk, mint, white pepper and bright saline accents linger on the pointed finish. Dosage is 3.8 grams per liter. Disgorged: first trimester 2023.Vinous Media | 96 VMElisabeth Salmon 2012 shows all the signs of being a true classic for Billecart-Salmon, beautifully balanced between the most alluring Pinot aromatics – black cherry juice, peach melba and fresh raspberry – and an engine of pure, persistent Chardonnay energy of bright clementine and zesty length, all lifted with subtle details of allspice, rose petal and nougat and delivered on an effortlessly silky mousse. Open for business, yet without the showiness that the wines of this vintage can sometimes display, it’s a rosé of assured refinement and quiet intensity that seems set for a long future. 55% Chardonnay from Chouilly, Avize, Cramant and Le Mesnil-sur-Oger with 45% Pinot Noir from Mareuil-sur-Aÿ and Ambonnay, with 8.3% red wine addition from Mareuil-sur-Aÿ. 2.9% fermented in barrel, and released after 115 months on lees with a dosage of 3.8g/L.Decanter | 95 DEC