2012 Bordeaux: Messages in a Bottle

Pessac-Léognan and Pomerol are without question the stars of Bordeaux’s 2012 vintage. Saint-Emilion follows, along with Lalande de Pomerol, Fronsac, and some of the lesser-known Right Bank appellations, where high quality and value increasingly go hand in hand. Readers will have to be selective in a year that is variable across the board, but there is plenty to like in 2012.

Two thousand twelve is the best of the three vintages that follow the epic 2009s and 2010s. Broadly speaking, the 2012s are surprisingly open and accessible, with forward fruit and generally mid-weight structures. Many wines will drink well with minimal cellaring, but a few also have the potential to age well.

I encourage readers to look beyond Bordeaux’s most famous names. Of course, those wines are of great interest, and they should be, as they are the benchmarks of excellence. But Bordeaux is about more than just several dozen highly coveted wines. As I put the finishing touches on this article in California I am once again reminded of how many fairly priced Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot-based wines can still be found in Bordeaux. That will be even truer of wines being sold out of Europe today given the current strength of the US dollar.

See the wines by region

St Estephe, Pauillac, Margaux, St. Julien, Pessac-Leognan, Pomerol, St. Emilion

All Right Bank, All Left Bank