Bordeaux Primeurs 2012: Robert Parker publishes his ratings!

Robert Parker's tasting notes

The campaign of Bordeaux primeur 2012 will have started exceptionally early and Robert Parker here delivers his tasting notes  Some 12 days after the start of the campaign. The notes confirm what he had hinted at: 2012 is the vintage of the Pomerol, Saint-Emilion Grands Crus, Pessac-Léognan white winesHere is a translation of his statement:“My tastings clearly revealed the superior quality of the Merlots, with Pomerol leading the way, closely followed by Pessac-Léognan. Saint-Émilion, given the size of its vineyards, has produced rather heterogeneous wines, ranging from exceptional wines whose quality is similar to that of 2009 and 2010, as well as flat, over-extracted, rustic, and astringent wines. The Médoc, in general, produced a mixed bag: some wines truly lacked mid-palate, some were herbaceous, even vegetal, and others were too tannic. However, many producers on the Left Bank produced straightforward, fruity wines with minimal extraction. They then succeeded in making charming, quite light, delicious wines without excessive tannins. 2012 is a vintage with lower acidity than 2011 and higher tannin levels. At its best, the tannins are soft and sweet, particularly in Pomerol and Pessac-Léognan, and to some extent in Saint-Émilion.

While 2012 is not an exceptional vintage, it is excellent in Pomerol, Pessac-Léognan, and in some cases in Saint-Émilion. On the Left Bank, it is more disappointing and must be considered on a case-by-case basis, depending on the Château. The sweet white wines are very disappointing, while the dry white wines are magnificent: rich, smooth, intense, and honeyed. 2012 is, in this category of wine, a very high-quality vintage.

Here are Robert Parker's notes on the 2012 Bordeaux Primeurs, which have just been published.