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Le Gay 2012

RegionBordeaux
Subregion France > Bordeaux > Right Bank > Pomerol
ColourRed
TypeStill
Grape VarietyMerlot/Cabernet Franc

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Label

Tasting Notes

This is a beautiful, dense, meaty, purple-colored wine, with loads of earth, iron, blackberry and cassis fruit. It is full-bodied, rich and opulent with great length, terrific purity and surprisingly sweeter tannin than I would expect from this terroir that tends to produce a masculine style of wine. Impressive and backward, this Le Gay should drink well for at least 20 years. Drink: 2015 - 2035

94+
Robert Parker, Wine Advocate (218), April 2015

In this year, Le Gay has undergone micro-vinification in barrel (Darnajou) for the first time. It is a blend of 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc cropped at 30hl/ha between 8th and 11th October. It has a very pure, natural, refined bouquet with redcurrant, raspberry, wild hedgerow and a touch of orange blossom. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannins, quite tart on the entry with a touch of piquancy. This is a more compact Le Gay compared to the 2011 at the moment, but it will mellow and gain volume throughout its maturation. There is very good focus on the finish - a fine mid-term Le Gay to drink between 7 and 15 years. Tasted April 2013.

92/94
Neal Martin, RobertParker.com, May 2013

This is dense and polished with refined tannins and beautiful fruit. Full-bodied yet reserved and elegant. Very long and attractive. Better in 2018.

92
James Suckling, JamesSuckling.com, February 2015

One of the smokier 2012s in this line up, showing mocha, grilled almonds, tar and campfire. Good quality, ready to drink at 10 years old but still with structure and exuberance. The oak impact remains a little distracting, but there is plenty of Pomerol signature and plump black fruits on display. 100% new oak, 30hl/h yield. Chantal Raynaud sole owner at this point, as her brother Alain Raynaud had sold his shares in 2010.

91
Jane Anson, JaneAnson.com, March 2022

Very rich and deep. Super heady and with some essence of blackberry to it. Very thick and deep and unctuous. Sweet and rich and thick. Petit Verdot…

17.5
Julia Harding MW, JancisRobinson.com, April 2013

Deep purple colour. Explosive aromatics of blueberry, black cherry and dried flowers with vanilla pod and toast. The palate is juicy, with highly polished, supple, soft tannins giving a wonderfully smooth mouthfeel, lifted by acidity. The black cherry fruit core is intense, and lingers on the long finish. This wine is soft enough to drink now, but has real potential for age. Another highlight of the right bank in 2012.

96
Farr Vintners, Farr Tasting, June 2015

Ripe plums give richness on the nose and fleshiness on the palate. The mid palate is juicy sweet ripe fruited lots of damson plum with the supple richness balanced by fresher fruit that gives brightness on the finish. 2020-35.

91/93
Derek Smedley MW, April 2013

Not quite as good as La Violette in 2012, but this is still a fitting tribute to the late Catherine
Péré-Vergé's memory. It's an ambitious Pomerol that eschews easy drinkability in favour of
the longer haul: rich, dense, oaky and structured with hints of violets on the nose and dark,
brooding fruit. Classy stuff.
Drink: 2022-35

94
Tim Atkin MW, timatkin.com, April 2013
Read more tasting notes...

A backward, muscular style of Le Gay, the 2012 exhibits a dense blue/purple color as well as sweet blueberry and black raspberry notes intermixed with notions of forest floor and earth. Following the lovely bouquet, the tannins kick in and the wine shuts down. It is a muscular, rugged, full-bodied Pomerol that requires 7-10 years of cellaring. It should keep for three decades thereafter.

91/93+
Robert Parker, Wine Advocate (206), April 2013

A very polished and pretty wine with plums, berries and light vanilla cream character. Full and refined. I like the seamless tannins.

92/93
James Suckling, JamesSuckling.com, April 2013

Formerly owned by the same family as neighbour Chateau Lafleur, Le Gay is now owned by the family of Catherine Péré-Vergé along with other Pomerol properties Montviel and la Violette. Madame Péré-Vergé sadly died 4 days before our visit. The 6 hectare vineyard is planted with 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc with vines around 50 years old. Despite the 100% new oak this voluptuous Pomerol is not too toasty. The plump, polished fruit has a sexy, ripe mouthfeel with notes of chocolate and cream with a hint of nutmeg and violets. 15000 bottles produced. A very fine Pomerol.

93+
Farr Vintners, March 2013
Please note that these tasting notes/scores are not intended to be exhaustive and in some cases they may not be the most recently published figures. However, we always do our best to add latest scores and reviews when these come to our attention. We advise customers who wish to purchase wines based simply on critical reviews to carry out further research into the latest reports.