Over the past
couple years much of my wine purchases have been determined by the region in
the world that I am studying. But I also go through phases in which I crave and
just go bonkers over particular wines.
For the last 18 months I’ve been in a
Bordeaux phase (particularly the left bank) so when the opportunity to do a
2012 (mostly) tasting at K&L Wine Merchants in Redwood City presented
itself I just couldn’t pass it up. The following are my notes, hastily written
in a crowded tasting room, for 9 wines 6 of which are of the 2012 vintage that
I
tasted on Saturday June 27, 2015:
1. 2013 Alto de Cantenac Brown Blanc
In the line-up
there were three wines that were not
from the 2012 vintage. This was the first wine which is a blend of 90%
Sauvignon Blanc and 10% Semillon. On the nose the first thing that hit me was a
waft of a sweat drenched t-shirt followed by medium+ intense aromas of
grapefruit, lemon pith, dried grass, herbs, and white chalk. On the palate it is
dry with crisp high acidity, it is light in body and has a long finish. While I
enjoyed this wine on its own I think it would be better appreciated with
shellfish. This wine sells for $24.99.
2. 2000 Chateau Pontet-Canet,
Pauillac – 5th Growth
This wine is a
blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, and 4% Cabernet Franc. On the nose
it has moderately intense aromas of smoky meat and damp earth up front and then
the fruit follows with subtle aromas of black currants, wild blackberries, cigar
box, black olive and rusty nails. On the palate it On the palate it is dry with
with moderate tannins, medium acidity and a medium+ length finish with
lingering flavors of rusty metal. I didn’t particularly care for this wine as
the aromas and flavors seemed a bit disjointed, the rusty metal component was
off-putting and it was way overpriced at $149.99 per bottle.
3. 2012 Tour Saint Christopher St. Emillion
This wine is a
blend of 85% Merlot and 15% Cab Franc. On the nose it has medium intense aromas
of black cherries, black berries, ripe plums, soy-sauce, and purple flowers
with notes of cocoa, charcoal, and a hint of mint. On the palate it is dry with
with moderate tannins, medium acidity and a moderate length. While I wasn’t in
love with this wine you won’t find a wine of this complexity and quality in the
Napa Valley for $29.99 per bottle.
4. 2012 Larcis Ducasse St. Emilion – 1er Grand
Cru Classe
This wine is a
blend of 83% Merlot and 17% Cab Franc. On the nose it has moderate intense
aromas of black cherries, blackberries, plums, and chocolate covered thin
mints. On the palate it is dry with moderate tannins, medium acidity and a
medium+ length finish. The wine is well balanced and harmonious and was the
best of the right bank wines that were poured. It sells for $69.99 per bottle.
5. 2012 Larcis Les Carmes Haut Brion Pessac
Leognan
This wine is a
blend of 44% Merlot, 38% Cabernet Franc, and 18% Cabernet Sauvignon. This wine
has subtle aromas of indistinguishable black fruits - a mélange of blackberries,
black cherries and currants in which are clearly identifiable. Following
the fruit it has just a hint of black licorice and baker’s chocolate. On the
palate it is bone dry with fierce gripping tannins, moderate acidity and a
medium length finish. The wine lacks balance and harmony and the grapes seemed
to be in competition with each other. It is like an awkward teenager that will
either get dorkier as it ages or will develop into something special. But right
now at $44.99 per bottle I’d say, “Pass” as it was a bit of a disappointment.
6. 2012 Chateau Palmer Alter Ego, Margaux
This wine is a
blend of 51% Merlot, 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 9% Petit Verdot. Immediately
this wine grabs your attention with a beautiful bouquet of black currants,
blackberries, graphite, dark chocolate, a flowery perfume and black olives. On
the palate it is dry with silky tannins, moderate acidity and a long finish. This
wine is well balanced and harmonious and while it drinks beautifully now it
will definitely improve over the next few years. While I’m not in the habit of
giving wine scores, if I did I’d give it 93/100. This wine sells for $59.99 per
bottle.
7. 2012 Leoville Poyferre St. Julien – 2nd
Growth
This wine is a
blend of 61% Cabernet Sauvignon, 27% Merlot, 8% Petit Verdot, and 4% Cabernet
Franc. On the nose this wine has medium+ intense aromas of smoked meat and pipe
tobacco up front followed by crème de cassis, dark chocolate, wet gravel and a
hint of mint. On the palate it is dry with medium+ tannins, moderate acidity
and a long finish. I can’t recall ever coming across smoke or meat
characteristics in a wine from Bordeaux so I usually reserve those descriptors
for wines from the northern Rhône, but they were finitely present. The wine is
well balanced now and everything is well-integrated but will definitely improve
over the next 3-8 years. This wine sells for $74.99 per bottle.
8. 2012 Chateau Margaux – 1st
Growth
This wine is a
blend of 87% Cabernet Sauvignon and 13% Merlot. It was so glorious that any
written words fail to do it justice. The wine exudes a symphony of aromas with
layers of crème de cassis, pipe tobacco, cocoa, new leather, black tea, vanilla
bean, and graphite. On the
palate the wine is dry with aggressive medium+ tannins, moderate acidity and a
long finish. The wine is well balanced and is showing beautifully now but
definitely needs 5+ years to show its full potential. While I really enjoyed
this wine, $379.99 is a bit out of my range.
9. 2011 Chateau d Yquem Sauternes - Premier Cru
Supérieur
This wine is a
blend of 80% Semillon, 20% Sauvignon Blanc. On the nose it has pronounced aromas
of overly ripe pineapple, orange blossoms, honeycomb, graham crackers and
frosted corn flakes. On the palate it is intensely sweet with high acidity with
moderate body and a very long clean finish. This wine sells for $429.99 per 750
ml bottle and $219.99 375 ml bottle.
These and other wines
are available at:
K&L Wine
Merchants
3005 El Camino Real
Redwood City, CA, 94061
877-KLWines (877-559-4637)
(Toll Free)
(650) 364-8544 (Local)
(650) 364-4687 (Fax)
