Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

Welcome to Pebble Beach Food & Wine 2025.

2012 in Bordeaux is a great memory as Sofia & I had a great 5 year anniversary trip to Italy where we were married, ending in Bordeaux. Picking Mouton Merlot for a day, lunch with the Baroness, having steak and sipping 82 Mouton. Pinch me is what I said to Sofia.

Saint Julien is the elegant region on the Left Bank. While 2012 was an ok to good vintage it will always be packed with great memories.

Branaire-Ducru in grand vintages is still a great value. Always elegant with this kind of bottle age and more.

Hour decant starting notes.

Tonight smooth, ripe, round, juicy; brambly blackberries/black raspberries, dark cherries, cherries, black plum, some strawberries, raspberries with blueberry tones. Dry tobacco with ash, leather, spice box with some heat, lightly grilled meats, volcanics, moist clay, clove, nutmeg, cinnamon, light vanillin, mid berry cola, dark chocolate bar, forest floor with leaves, sandalwood, steeped black tea, bay leaf, dry thyme, mocha powder, dry caramel, crush, dry rock/limestone, dry river stone, bright red flowers mixed with dark withering flowers, nice round acidity and a balanced, smartly tensioned, elegant finish that lasts 90 seconds & lands on herbs & earth. — 2 days ago

Peter van den Besselaar

9.0

Vintage 2012 | great smell with all Saint Julien characteristics, taste falls back in this modest year. Lovely effort though. — 3 days ago

Alessandro Dalle Carbonare

9.2

Vino Vivo e libero. Zero lignificato o pesante. Tannini e struttura che rispecchiano la vendemmia. I like it a lot! — 3 hours ago

Vino Joe

9.7

Even more fantastic than the previous bottle of 2010 I enjoyed a year ago. Decanted and enjoyed over 7 hours. This was good from first pour but became great and then magnificent over the next 3.5 and 7 hours. It was still full of verve on the last sip! Early only it was more dark fruit but over time the wines softened and became a bit sweeter and rounder. Tremendous length and complexity. — 20 hours ago

Andrew Cullimore

9.2

Quite deep ruby , narrow ruby rim. Deep and more concentrated on the nose , with dark cassis , ripe summer fruits , dark cherry , grafite , oyster shell notes. On the palate this is quite rich and decadent , cassis , ripe blackberry , blueberry a, dark cherry . Sweet but ample tannin , balanced acidity , quite rich but well balanced , good blackcurrant, grafite tinged , length . This is showing well but will continue to do so over the next 10-15 years , perhaps longer . — 8 days ago

Jeroen Koenen

9.6

Wow….
Served blind, of course. So alive and complex and smooth. Just great. — 16 days ago

Andrew Cullimore

9.2

Medium ruby garnet , medium garnet rim . Quite exuberant on the nose from the off , with grafite , spicy cassis , touch of dusty tobacco and spicy blackberry . On the palate this is elegant with refreshing acidity , cassis, cool
Blackberry dome mineral , oyster shell notes . Fine tannins and fresh acidity . Good red currant tinged tinged finish . Really elegant and refined , a good example of this vintage . Drinking perfectly now and over the next 8-10 years I would imagine . — 8 days ago

Scott Soren

9.5

At nine years old it’s still quite young. Deep garnet, color, robust nose. This is a pure pleasure a good blend of power and elegance. I will drink for the next 20 years.  — 2 days ago

Ashraf Attal

9.4

Celebrating Yasmine’s Birthday at home 😍 — 3 days ago

Alessandro Dalle Carbonare

9.4

94 what a sexy nose. A bit austere on the palate but it’ll surely improve. Very nice and long aftertaste. — 3 hours ago