A tiny, luxury cuvee from Bernard Magrez and consultant Michel Rolland, the 2012 Magrez-Fombrauge (only 4,000 bottles produced) is a beauty. Cropped at 30 hectoliters per hectare, it is a blend of 59% Merlot and 41% Cabernet Franc that achieved 14% natural alcohol, which indicates the ripeness and sugar levels the grapes possessed in 2012 where allowed to ripen fully. An attractive, full-bodied, modern-styled St.-Emilion, it possesses abundant, sexy blue and black fruits, a hefty dosage of toasty new oak and a smoky, barbecue character. This full-bodied, opulent, pedal-to-the-metal wine should drink nicely for 15 or more years.

Wow. This is very, very well done for the vintage with lots of pretty fruit and polished tannins. Full and silky textured. Toned down from other vintages giving it more complexity.

The Magrez-Fombrauge is a blend of 70% Merlot and 30% Cabernet Franc cropped at 27.5hl/ha that was picked between 17th and 19th October. The extremely late picking (for the vintage) renders a very ripe, opulent, modern nose with layers of macerated dark cherry, blackberry and marmalade, although it needs more freshness. The palate is full-bodied with toasty black fruit. There is a lot of concentration here – a powerful 2012 with a grippy, intense, slightly mouth-puckering finish. It is actually quite reminiscent of Pavie. Tasted April 2013.

Drink 2018-2030 Firm, chewy but fresh too. Very tight tannin structure. Powerfully formed and the fruit all in hiding but definitely there because it is neither dry nor hard. Impressive. (JH)