The 2012 l'Eglise-Clinet is well-defined on the nose: blackberry, cassis, touches of wild mint and violet. This is very Margaux-like. The palate is medium-bodied with saturated tannins, fleshy and ripe, good density and concentration. One of the most flamboyant 2012s in the line-up, this has so much purity on the finish. Gorgeous

A wine that wins my nomination for the title of wine of the vintage" is the 2012 L'Eglise Clinet, a fleshy and enveloping Pomerol evocative of dark cherries and berries mingled with licorice, spices, pencil lead, truffle and rose petals. Full-bodied, broad and textural, it's lavish and expansive, with terrific depth at the core, supple tannins and a long, resonant finish. Seamless, charming and impeccably balanced, this transcends the vintage, and while it's deceptively drinkable now, it remains a mere adolescent at age 11."

This delivers a gorgeously pure and racy core of raspberry, boysenberry and blackberry fruit, melded perfectly with singed black tea leaf, dried star anise and roasted apple wood notes. Velvety and alluring overall, but there's a bright minerality buried on the finish.