Wine 2012

Our view on the 2012 vintage

In Bordeaux, the 2012 harvest started quite early, and the rains from April to July were highly beneficial. The good weather then came back in August and September: as a result, the ripeness was heterogeneous in the vienyards. At the cost of a severe grape sorting, the harvest went well and the Merlot wines have been advantaged (wines of the Right Bank of Saint Emilion or Pomerol designation). The style of the 2012 red wines in Bordeaux is balanced and more about finesse than power. Regarding the white Bordeaux in 2012, we can note some great successes in Pessac Leognan who produced very good wines. In Sauternes, unfortunately, 2012 was not that a good year and Yquem decided not to produce its great wine. In 2012 Burgundy wines, the year was marked by capricious weather and some vineyards on the Cote de Beaune were hardly hit by hail. The yields have sometimes been strongly affected. The grapes that were not harvested (because of unripeness) before September 25 were less likely to ripen afterwards, which explains the disparity between the best Burgundy vintages (famous Grands Crus and 1er Crus) and the rest of the designations in cooler climats. Consequently, 2012 red Burgundy are better on the Cote de Nuit (spared by hail) and on the best 1er crus and Grands Crus plots of Burgundy than elsewhere. In Cote de Beaune, the Corton hill offers good wines and Meursault has produced pretty white wines but in reduced volumes. In Champagne, 2012 is a very good year and according to the bigger producers, there should be beautiful Champagne bottles. In Rhone wines, the vintage was rather late, and if some 2012 red wines can sometimes show some aromas linked to unripen berries in the Northern Rhone valley, the big usual producers produced beautiful bottles. In the Southern Rhone, Chateauneuf du Pape 2012 offers very interesting wines of rather good aging potential. In Alsace, the 2012 vintage is dominated by dry wines made from Pinot Gris, the Riesling having had to delay and extend their harvest (between 2 showers) to finally obtain good maturity. In the Loire Valley, the 2012 vintage is also marked by capricious summer weather, but in Sancerre as in Muscadet, the winemakers have managed to produce very good wines.   

Which 2012 wine to buy? Our 2012 best buying advices

If you want to buy a bottle of wine from the 2012 vintage, Bordeaux offers real opportunities. Many Grands Crus Classes from Saint Emilion and Grands Crus Classes from Pomerol can be advised: 2012 Palmer, 2012 Chateau Margaux, 2012 Lafite Rothschild, 2012 Mouton Rothschild, 2012 Latour, 2012 Petrus, 2012 Angelus, 2012 Ausone, 2012 Haut Brion, 2012 Pontet Canet, 2012 Montrose, 2012 Leoville Las Cases, 2012 Leoville Barton, 2012 Cheval Blanc, 2012 Eglise Clinet, 2012 Trotanoy or 2012 Le Pin. A very good deal to buy wine online: 2012 La Fleur de Bouard. In dry white wines from Graves in Bordeaux (Pessac Leognan) , you will find very great wines: 2012 Haut Brion blanc, 2012 La Mission Haut Brion blanc, 2012 Domaine de Chevalier Blanc. In Burgundy reds, turn to 2012 Clos des Lambrays  which is excellent or a Morey Saint Denis 1er cru. In the Rhone Valley, a 2012 Cote Rotie from Jamet or a 2012 Chateauneuf du Pape  from Charvin or Domaine du Vieux Telegraphe are delighted wines to purchase. In Loire wines, go for a 2012 Sancerre from Cotat or Boulay.   

Would you like to buy a 2012 vintage wine? Are you looking for a 2012 vintage wine as an anniversary gift? Discover our selection of wines, anniversary vintages, and grand crus from 2012 vintage ! At Vins & Millesimes, our wines bottles and 2012 magnums are always 100% in stock, fastly delivered, and at the best price!