Chateau Clos Marsalette 2012

THE WINE ADVOCATE: "From the empire of the Neippergs, this brilliant 2012 Clos Marsalette has a gorgeous nose of Christmas fruitcake, cedar wood, smoked herbs, blackcurrants and jammy cherries. It is medium to full-bodied, silky smooth, very sexy, complex and a total hedonistic, intellectual turn-on. The complexity and nuances that the Neipperg winemaking team is able to get in all of its wines is amazing. This is a beauty and a major sleeper of the vintage."

THE WINE CELLAR INSIDER: "One of the top values year after in Pessac Leognan offers soft, silky textures, layers of sweet, fresh, ripe, smoky fruit, earth and licorice in a forward style. The wine is showing much better in bottle than barrel, which is always a good sign."

WINE SPECTATOR: "Very fresh and stylish, with a lovely bay leaf note pervading the core of red currant, damson plum and cherry fruit. A supple mouthfeel and lingering sanguine and mesquite hints line the finish. Wins on elegance rather than power. Drink now through 2020. 2,167 cases made."