The 2012 Haut-Brion, which represents only 46% of the production, is a blend of 65% Merlot, 33% Cabernet Sauvignon and 2% Cabernet Franc. One of the stars of the vintage, it is a complete, medium to full-bodied, soft, round, atypically accessible effort displaying lots of minerality along with red and black fruits, exceptional fragrance and purity, a fleshy mid-palate and a long finish. A remarkable fact in both these wines is that the alcohol levels in 2012 hit 14.8%, which nearly equals the record levels achieved in 2010 – that’s astonishing! This 2012 should drink well 3-4 years after bottling, and last for 20-25 years. 93-95 points

So here is one of the stars of the vintage. For the first time, this wine contains 65.5% Merlot, which is the highest proportion, more than in 2004, 2003 and 2001. The most surprising is that despite the grape variety, the nature of this wine still comes through loud and clear. Then there is 32.5% Cabernet Sauvignon and 2% Cabernet Franc. The colour is intense and the nose fruity. This wine is round and juicy from the outset, then it develops to become aromatic, very well crafted and richly supple in the middle. Then it evolves slowly towards a ripe, powerful finish. This is a rich wine for the vintage, flavoursome, full and long and its tannins are subtle and particularly fragrant. Well done! 95 points

The Grand Vin is a blend of 65.5% Merlot, 32.5% Cabernet Sauvignon and 2% Cabernet Franc, which is one of the highest percentages of Merlot. It has a ripe, generous bouquet with hints of orange blossom and liquorice infused the red fruit profile. The Merlot clearly defined the character of the 2012. The palate is medium-bodied with a firm grip on the entry – more so than La Mission. This is deeper and more structured than the La Mission, perhaps quite masculine which is quite surprising considering the blend. It has great length. This is one of the great successes of the vintage and there is a clear gap between here and La Mission.