Chateau Malescot Saint Exupery 2012

THE WINE ADVOCATE: "Another great wine in this vintage, the 2012 Malescot offers up tremendous level of black fruits, charcoal and intense, a medium to full-bodied mouthfeel, sensational purity, low acidity and ripe tannins. It is full-bodied, stunning, multidimensional, and a compelling example of this vintage. Anticipated maturity: 2017-2030+."

JAMES SUCKLING: "Beautiful aromas and flavors of cassis, ripe black cherries and raspberries. Some earth, too. This is a full-bodied red with silky tannins and a long, fruity finish. Juicy. Better in 2018."

WINE SPECTATOR: "This is distinctive, with a roasted alder streak running through an enticing core of crushed plum, blackberry and black currant confiture flavors. Long and velvety on the finish, with bay, tobacco and black tea accents checking in. This is suave, with fruit and terroir in spades, particularly for the vintage. Best from 2017 through 2025. 7,500 cases made."

FALSTAFF: "Dunkles Rubingranat, violette Reflexe, zarte Randaufhellung, attraktive Röstaromen, feiner Karamelltouch, reife schwarze Beerenfrucht unterlegt, Nuancen von Lakritze und Orangenzesten. Saftig, elegant, feine Extraktsüße, runde Tannine, frische Struktur, angenehmer Schokotouch im Abgang, mineralisch und anhaltend."

THE WINE CELLAR INSIDER: "Round, plush, lush and forward, the nose, with its licorice, floral and chocolate covered cherry personality earns some attention. Soft and easy to drink, a few years is all that’s needed for this come around."

WEINWISSER: "Sattes Purpur-Granat, dicht in der Mitte, aussen lila- schwarzen Schimmer zeigend. Intensives und auch sehr konzentriert wirkendes Bouquet, schwarze Kirschen, Edelhölzer, Tabak, Trüffelspuren, zeigt somit eine ansprechende Tiefe. Im Gaumen fest, leicht mehlige Tannine, verlangende Adstringenz, endet relativ trocken. Rückkehr zur Klassik? Auf alle Fälle ein geduldiger Dekantierwein – und das erstmals in zehn Jahren. Die 18/20 sind dann in Griffnähe!"

DECANTER: "This is enticing and mouthwatering from the first sip. It dances along a mid-point between freshness and generosity. It's not hugely concentrated but there's pleasure and fruit here, and I would get going on it in the next few years. Drinking Window 2020 - 2038."

JANCIS ROBINSON: "Tasted blind. Very dark crimson. Sweet, tea-leaf aromas. Fine and fresh. Good structure and concentration. Hint of bitterness on the end."