The opaque bluish-purple 2012 Smith Haut Lafite offers up notes of licorice, graphite, blueberry and blackberry fruit, a medium to full-bodied mouthfeel, stunningly ripe, velvety tannins and a long, long finish. This is another sensational effort from the Cathiards that is perfectly balanced, complex, super-rich and pure. Drink it over the next 20-25 years.

A dark, sensual wine, the 2012 Smith Haut Lafitte boasts marvelous depth and textural richness. Dark red stone fruits, leather, smoke, tobacco, gravel and herbs are laced together in an expansive wine endowed with terrific purity. The tannins are going to need at least a few years to soften, but there is clearly quite a bit to look forward to.

Medium/full bodied, with an earthy, truffle, smoky, espresso, blackberry, plum and dark cherry filled nose. Soft, plush and polished, the ripe, sweet fruits linger on your palate.

Layered fig, boysenberry and blackberry pâte de fruit notes are buttressed by ample, yet polished and integrated, ganache-coated tannins, while accents of black tea, ganache and tar course underneath. A really gorgeous display of fruit, showing terroir and cut on the finish. Best from 2018 through 2027. 10,000 cases made. — JM

This is very deep and sensual for the vintage with blackberry, tobacco, chocolate, coffee and spice character. Full body, super-integrated tannins and a long, long finish. Superb for the vintage. Give it three or four years to come around but already gorgeous.

Tasted from a barrel sample at en primeur. The 2012 is a blend of 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot that is being raised in 60% new barrels. It has a intense bouquet, very lifted with the Merlot lending it a very floral aspect. Touches of crème de cassis develop with time. The palate is very well balanced with a smooth texture although you can feel the tannins exert their influence on the structured, much more Left Bank style finish that leaves a tertiary/tobacco aftertaste. This might be a long-term SHL. Tasted April 2013.

Robust, generous fruit with density, presence and pretty serious structure. Solid, plump fruit and that important weight on the mid-palate, showing proper ripeness. Good.

[55CS/40M/4CF/1PV] Deep, ripe fruit and aromatic nose; elegantly balanced, nicely concentrated, finely tannic, a seductive combination of matter and vitality, juicy fruit and fine mineral aromas; long to taste, gently complex, aromatic, and with lovely fruit persistence. 2020-30 [M.Schuster, Bordeaux Mar/Apr 2013]

Dark purple. Appetising fresh forest-floor nose. Very sweet palate entry but there is freshness here too. Just a little skinny and astringent on the finish but this is attractive modern red bordeaux without overkill of either oak or alcohol. Very competent. Drink 2019-2030.