Château La Cabanne 2012

Compact and angular, of medium length.

Direct, with a lightly smoky edge to the core of steeped plum and blackberry fruit, revealing a tobacco shading on the finish. Drink now. 3,000 cases made, 200 cases imported.

Softer fruit structure than 2009 or 2010, with woodsmoke- and truffle-laced strawberries. Enjoyable, not quite the same grip as many in the line-up, perhaps because this is the only one that is 100% Merlot (I only looked at the technical specs after tasting). First year with Thomas Duclos as consultant. 55% new oak.

Dense and ripe fruit on the palate with medium body, silky and juicy tannins. Hints of walnut. Plenty of pretty fruit and balance. Drink or hold. 100% merlot.

Deep dark cherry. Juicy and approachable. All present and correct and in balance. (JH)

Ready to go, the wine has put on weight in the bottle. Now you find an elegant, medium-bodied, soft, chocolate-covered dark red pit fruit nose and palate with a supple, silky-textured finish.

Some earthy and spicy notes, wild berries, cranberry, dry spices, medium weight on the palate, fresh and firm with grippy tannin and a medium to long finish.

Dark garnet, fairly dense at the core, ruby rim. Intense fruit bouquet, red cherries, cassis and blackberries, with early, pronounced roasted notes. On the palate, shows ample extract, feels somewhat extracted and, in terms of ripeness, somewhat borderline. Requires a lot of patience and will still come across as somewhat bourgeois even in its drinking window in at least ten years. But that is the fundamental character of La Cabanne.

Dark garnet, fairly dense at the core, ruby rim. Intense fruit bouquet, red cherries, cassis and blackberries, with initial, pronounced roasted notes. On the palate it shows generous extract, feels somewhat extracted and, in terms of ripeness, rather on the edge. Requires a lot of patience and will only enter its drinking window in at least 10 years, still coming across as somewhat bourgeois. But that is the fundamental character of La Cabanne.

Fresh, floral, finely structured bouquet, red blackberries, cherries, delicate vanilla, mocha. Velvety, soft palate with fresh fruit, fine sandy tannins, good aromatics, lightly peppery finish. 17/20 2018 - 2030

La cabane has always been a structured and fairly tannic Pomerol. 2012 is no exception to the rule, though in a lighter style than usual.

Notes of black berries and coffee on the bouquet. Well supported by its tannins, the wine is in great shape. It shines with finesse in a still somewhat firm context… and it has high ambitions. La Cabanne regularly proves that there is no need for artifice to move forward. You just need patience. Persistent finish.

Fruity wine, rounded on the palate, medium-bodied, slightly oaky on the finish, and discreet.

89–91. Barrel sample. This is a ripe, fruity, wine that's wonderfully representative of Merlot. It has soft tannins, juicy acidity and a delicious black-currant character. It's likely best for medium-term aging.