Chateau Margaux 1er Cru 2012

Tasted blind at the 2012 Southwold tasting, the 2012 Château Margaux has a taut, linear, pencil lead-infused bouquet with pure blackberry and boysenberry scents, an undercurrent of tobacco that surfaces after five minutes in the glass. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannin, crisp acidity, a life-affirming sense of balance with well-integrated new oak towards the finish. I concur with Robert Parker that his has become more structured and masculine in bottle, yet there is pedigree here from start to finish, a sense of effortlessness that is seductive. This is a top-class wine from the late Paul Pontallier and his team. RP

RATING : RP96, WS95
REGION : BORDEAUX, France
BOTTLE SIZE : 75CL
GRAPE : Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot
SWEETNESS : Dry
FOOD MATCH : Steak, lamb, aged cheese