1 | Wine | Wine Futures, Pessac-leognan / Graves, $20 to $50

"Juicy and direct, with solid plum, raspberry and bitter cherry notes pushed by woodspice, singed alder and charcoal. Nice range, and with a pleasantly chewy, grippy feel."

"Another brilliant effort from proprietress Helene Garcin, the opaque ruby/purple-colored, medium-bodied 2012 Haut-Bergey reveals lots of smoky barbecue, forest floor, black currant and damp earth notes in a surprisingly dense, concentrated, positive, complete style. An outstanding mid-palate and length make for an impressive showing."
-Reviewed by: Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate - 90 to 93 pts

"Showy style, with lots of ganache and dark toast leading the way, backed by ample plum sauce, fig paste and currant confiture notes. Long, charcoal-framed finish has plenty of heft. Not shy in style, this has density and drive."

"The 2012 reveals plenty of Christmas fruitcake notes intermixed with a hint of roasted herbs, sweet, jammy black currant and black cherry fruit, and a touch of background oak in an exuberant, quasi-opulent style with outstanding intensity, richness and blossoming complexity. It is an impressive example of a Pessac-Leognan, one of the stronger appellation in the 2012 vintage."
Reviewed by: Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate - 90 to 92 pts

"A bright tobacco leaf and savory note up front is followed by sleek black cherry, plum and blackberry fruit that has melded nicely. Long, alder-tinged finish has lovely minerality. Distinctive."

"While made in a pretty, lighter style, the 2011 Haut-Bergey must take a back seat to the 2009 and 2010. Medium-bodied with notes of tobacco leaf, red and black currants, bay leaf and earth, it can be enjoyed over the next decade."
-Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate, 87 to 89 pts.

"This has good depth and polish, with pure, ripe blackberry and black currant fruit laced with roasted tobacco leaf, bay and iron notes. Shows solid grip through the finish."

"This seductive, open-knit, lush, attractive Pessac-Leognan offers lots of tobacco leaf, sweet kirsch and assorted berry fruit notes in its delicious, medium-bodied, silky, round, complex and hedonistic personality. Enjoy it over the next 5-6 years." -Robert Parker