Another single vineyard wine from the high-rent district, surrounded by Canon, Angélus and Beauséjour-Duffau, Jonathan Malthus’ inky ruby/purple 2012 is wonderfully concentrated with a boatload of blackcurrant and black cherry fruit intermixed with licorice, vanillin, and spice. Some underlying minerality buttresses the wine’s medium to full-bodied mouthfeel. The tannins are sweet and soft, and the wine very impressive. Drink this blend of 66% Merlot and 34% Cabernet Franc over the next 15 or more years.

Mulberry, black cherry, kirsch, lavender, spring flower and crushed chalk-like notes emerge from this well-endowed, medium to full-bodied, rich, fragrant wine that displays both nobility and raciness. The tannins are apparent in this big, impressively endowed 2012. It should drink well for 15-20 years. There is the famed Vieux Chateau Certan (known by wine geeks as VCC) and now there is VCM from Jonathan Malthus. Surrounded on three sides by the famous Chateau Canon and near to both Angelus and Beausejour-Duffau, Vieux Chateau Mazerat tends to be about two-thirds Merlot and one-third Cabernet Franc (from vines planted in 1947).

This shows wonderful fruit for the vintage with dark chocolate, tobacco and dark fruits. Full and juicy with a velvety texture and a chocolate undertone. Excellent length.

The Vieux Chateau Mazerat has a fine fresh vibrant bouquet with dark cherry, boysenberry and wilted violets with very good lift and brightness. The palate is grippy, ripe and a little more exotic than Les Asteries with a pleasant salty tang. It just needs a little more precision on the finish that has good grip and I hope will develop a touch more flesh when in bottle. Tasted April 2013.